Niru Ratman, a London-based gallery selected for the Focus section, presented a trilogy of works by artist Eunjo Lee titled "Hesapia," which tells the story of a virtual, non-human, immaterial civilization through video. Just as Lehmann Maupin featured Do-ho Suh, Niru Ratman, though not based in Korea, works with an artist who studied art in the UK and developed a network there. The artist utilizes the game graphics tool "Unreal Engine" to create her own mythology and worldview. While her earlier work, "The lullaby of the Ruins," focused on showcasing the immaterial civilization she created, her more recent work seems to connect this worldview with environmental discourse.
The beings appearing in the video are a combination of machines and natural objects, resembling the human body. They explore a virtual civilization made up of machines and nature, questioning the world and gaining enlightenment. Some scenes feature objects that hint at the extinction of human civilization, such as hearts and severed hands. The beings in the video pursue these objects, seeking to understand humanity while transcending humanity and making a decision to dedicate themselves to nature and the world.
The fictional creatures appearing in the work are referred to by names like "girl" and "visitor" instead of by name. Perhaps this stems from the author's act of "giving names" itself, constructing a worldview based on the premise of human civilization. The creatures' mythical dialogue also enhances the work's immersion.
