Double Moon

ANNG Gallery

"Double Moon" is based on Jaedon Shin's paintings and incorporates Ryuichi Sakamoto's classic piece "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence". It explores the merging of the Eastern and Western cultures through one’s experience. The artwork reveals the inner struggles of humanity when faced with questioning one’s identity, historical trauma, and psychological complexities.

The work delves into the duality present in the world, extending from social issues to the complexities of the human psyche. Shin's paintings, rich in colour, memory, and imagination, reflect his deep aspiration for his dual cultural identity as a Korean-Australian. Growing up in the divided Korea, Shin deeply reflects on the fears and desires of his nation, as well as the sense of alienation brought about by the immigrant experience.

The work displays a poetic symbolism of psychological conflict where friends cannot be distinguished from foes in the amidst of a battle fought in darkness. This portrays an immense fear giving the soldiers the thought of “might we make a mistake and even kill our friends?” This crisis of identity becomes increasingly complex when we cannot discern identities.

This duality exists within every person—the conflict between the good and the bad, ying and yang, sense of self and others, the knowing and the unknowing. The video explores this theme by juxtaposing two of Shin's paintings. The seams between the paintings are preserved, symbolizing division and opposition, and illustrating the conflict and struggle within the human psyche.

The music selected is Ryuichi Sakamoto's "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence", a Western symphonic piece that, with its unique Eastern qualities, resonates strongly with Shin's work.

Unlike war-themed symphonies, the piece begins with the purest emotions expressed through the most primitive piano melody, harmonizing with the poetic metaphor of mountain warfare depicted in the paintings. This minimalist approach highlights the emotional connection between the music and the artwork. Although there are no graphic battle scenes, the music conveys an oppressive sense of psychological complexities.

The melody, rich in Eastern characteristics, is composed using parallel fourths and natural minor scales, creating a melancholic and sorrowful atmosphere in tandem with the visuals. This song is chosen by the rhythm and melody of the Gamelan, an Eastern instrument which echo’s like a heartbeat, symbolizing the pulse of life and the essence of existence bringing hope for the future. The version chosen is a concert cover which evokes a more enriching feeling with a gradual build-up to demonstrate the conflicting themes of the artwork. It merges Western symphony with Eastern characteristics, symbolizing the collision and fusion of Eastern and Western cultures, ultimately foreshadowing reconciliation. It's as if all the grudges and emotions of war eventually melt away in a single "Merry Christmas”.

The "Double Moon" conveys an intense inner struggle where peace and unity are ultimately achieved. Through the harmony of the music and painting, the "Double Moon" deeply explores the inner struggles of humanity when faced with cultural division and identity. However, after intense conflict, the two ultimately merge once again. This process not only symbolizes reconciliation between the self and the other but also expresses a deep understanding and acceptance of complex human nature. The artwork conveys a hopeful conclusion, ultimately finding reconciliation and self-identity.

[Group Project]

#After Effect #Photoshop