Illuminate: Soo Hong
Exhibition June 6-27
Opening reception June 6 3-5 pm
Performance with Soundtrack composer s é h e e, June 19th
In two poetic films, Soo Hong presents the stories of immigration and the slippery conditions of liquid modernity.
Bright Tongue blends documentary and visual poetry to connect the stories of seven immigrants from diverse backgrounds, including Eritrea, Japan, China, Iran, Argentina, India, and Costa Rica. As all seven participants are residents of Washington state, the project carries both a local anchor and a global resonance that reflects the region’s rich cultural diversity.
The central theme begins with an open question: “Think about the brightest thing in your life.” Rather than following traditional biographical research, the film captures the participants' psychological worlds through a poetic lens.
Her personal journey appears in the accompanying, Illuminate, a surreal film exploring hope and empathy through the medium of light. The film portrays us as dreamers or vagabonds who carry hope, finding ways to create meaning as we adapt to our surroundings.