Sonic Ropes

Sonic Ropes
2021-

Sonic Rope – Aureate Triangle
2023

PVD-coated stainless steel bells, split rings

400 x 4 x 4 cm

Courtesy of Kukje Gallery

Photo: Studio Haegue Yang

Sonic Cosmic Rope – Light Blue Dodecagon Straight Weave
2023

Stainless steel bells, powder-coated stainless steel bells, stainless steel chains, split rings

400 x 10 x 10 cm

Courtesy of Galerie Chantal Crousel

Photo: Studio Haegue Yang

Sonic Cosmic Rope – Gold Dodecagon Straight Weave
2022

Stainless steel bells, PVD-coated stainless steel bells, stainless steel chains, split rings

Dimensions variable

Courtesy of Kukje Gallery

Installation view of Do We Dream Under the Same Sky, Okayama Art Summit, Okayama Orient Museum, Okayama, Japan, 2022

Photo: Yasushi Ichikawa

Sonic Rescue Ropes
2021-2022

Black stainless steel, PVD-coated stainless steel, and stainless steel bells, nickel plated bells, stainless steel chains, split rings

Dimensions variable

Courtesy of M+, Hong Kong

Commissioned by M+, 2021-2022

Installation view of M+ Commission: Haegue Yang, M+ , Hong Kong, 2021

Photo: Lok Cheng and Dan Leung, M+, Hong Kong

Installation view of M+ Commission: Haegue Yang, M+, Hong Kong, 2022
Photo: Lok Cheng. M+, Hong Kong

Sonic Celestial Ropes
2021

PVD-coated stainless steel bells, stainless steel chains, quick links, split rings

Dimensions variable

Courtesy of the artist, Galerie Barbara Wien, Berlin, Galerie Chantal Crousel, Paris, kurimanzutto Mexico City / New York and Kukje Gallery

Photo: Studio Haegue Yang

Sonic Celestial Rope – Iridescent Dodecagon Straight Weave
2021

PVD-coated stainless steel bells, stainless steel chains, quick links, split rings

1600 x 11 x 11 cm

Courtesy of the artist, Galerie Barbara Wien, Berlin, and Private collection, Hamburg

Photo: Studio Haegue Yang

Sonic Celestial Rope – Iridescent Dodecagon Tight Curl
2021

PVD-coated stainless steel bells, stainless steel chains, quick links, split rings

1600 x 11 x 11 cm

Courtesy of the artist, Galerie Chantal Crousel, Paris, Kukje Gallery, and kurimanzutto Mexico City / New York

Photo: Studio Haegue Yang

Sonic Celestial Rope – Iridescent Dodecagon Loose Curl
2021

PVD-coated stainless steel bells, stainless steel chains, quick links, split rings

1600 x 11 x 11 cm

Courtesy of the artist, Galerie Chantal Crousel, Paris, and Collection of Steven and Kathy Guttman

Photo: Studio Haegue Yang

Installation view of Double Soul, SMK – Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2022
Photo: Anders Sune Berg

Excerpt from exhibition guide of Double Soul, SMK – Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2022

Many of Yang’s Sonic Sculptures in various modalities can be regarded as performative pieces, evoking change and instability. Most of them are not stationary and can be set in motion, made to oscillate and turned upside down – all of which introduce elements of concrete, palpable change and, most importantly, are accompanied by sonic resonance. The sound, the metallic rattle and jingling, is an equally significant dimension of the Sonic Sculptures. Seeking to expand our experience of sculpture, Yang often activates senses other than just the sense of sight in her works – smell, touch or as here, hearing.

Stretched between the ground and the 20-metre-high ceiling, Sonic Celestial Ropes are made solely of bells connected with rings, hanging like sci-fi lianas in space. Their strong vertical axes draw one’s eye to automatically follow the ropes all the way up to the ceiling. When the ropes are shaken or hit manu- ally, the activated sound and curves rise, as if something is ascending.

The inspirational story behind these unusual rope sculptures is a Korean folk tale about two siblings escaping a wild tiger by climbing a rope appearing from the sky. Safe in heaven, they become the Sun and the Moon. A rope or sometimes a ladder is a recurring feature in many folk tales and mythologies as a means of connection and communication between the sky and earth. Yang’s keen interest in various references about mystic leaps thus informs Sonic Celestial Ropes as well.

Sonic Rope – Silver Hexagon Regular
2021

Stainless steel bells, stainless steel chains, split rings

Dimensions variable

Collection of Joohwan Park, Seoul

Photo: Studio Haegue Yang