CONCEPT
Code of the Eternal reinterprets Jongkyu Park’s signature theme of ‘noise’ in the context of the Egyptian desert. Known for constructing images by printing digital pixels (dots and lines) onto adhesive sheets and selectively removing them, Park extends this method into the landscape, where signal and noise fluidly exchange roles.
The work centres on a triangular geometric structure set within a square frame, encrypted with the identities and phone numbers of numerous individuals. This reflects the concept of hidden messages, much like the secrets buried within ancient pyramids. The structure itself is based on numerical proportions drawn from the height and length of actual pyramids, linking geometry with spiritual symbolism.
Surrounding this are about 1,000 stainless steel mirror dots – transformed digital ‘noise’ elements – that shimmer under sunlight, echoing pixel-based distortions found in digital media. These dots form an encrypted message reminiscent of Morse code, symbolizing a path connecting past, present, and future. A poetic message by the artist, imagining a dialogue from Dangun, the mythic founder of ancient Korea, to an Egyptian pharaoh, is inscribed on a stone tablet. This imagined exchange bridges two ancient civilizations through a shared longing for immortality and eternal life.
Park’s work reimagines Egypt’s ancient heritage through a contemporary digital lens, creating a meditative space where material, technology, and mythology converge. Ultimately, Code of the Eternal invites viewers to explore their own interpretations, allowing the meaning to shift and evolve with each perspective.