Tunnel by Jiye Yun

中文版 - Chinese version      

Artist list

Jiye Yun

Jiye and I talked about why the exhibition is called Tunnel.

Jiye: In recent years, tiles have long been a central motif in my work. 
Tile surfaces—on facades, in subway stations, swimming pools, public baths, and bathrooms—are part of everyday life, yet often go unnoticed. They shape space and endure over time.

Rather than reproducing specific places, I use tiles as a visual language. My work moves between surface and structure—sometimes suggesting fragments of architecture, at other times remaining nearly flat while still evoking depth.

In this exhibition, tile-based works are presented alongside earlier enamel pieces and recent etching works, bringing together works from different periods of my practice


Xiao: Your work seems to have changed a lot, from your earlier enamel series to the current 'Micro Tile' series. But I feel that you've always been expressing ideas related to space and time, just in different ways. For example, in the enamel brooches, there's a figure drawn in pencil—he or she is always situated within a partial view of some space. You establish the presence of a space without depicting a specific scene. So I naturally find myself wondering: where is this? What else is nearby? I even start guessing at the figure's mood and the circumstances of that moment.

In the tile series, gradually, 'that figure' has been omitted. Now you only show corners of walls, floors, a swimming pool, or a few steps. Your depiction of spatial fragments has become more meticulous and orderly—as if you've pulled the camera closer and magnified the details. I feel like I understand why you use stacked tiles to represent fragments of architecture. Whenever I pass through metro stations in different cities, I can't help but notice certain tiled walls. They might date back to the last century or even earlier. Worn by time, their surfaces and colors have undergone subtle changes, acquiring a unique and captivating texture that belongs to just that building.

For me, your works are like fissures connecting time and space, and also an entrance you've left for viewers to step into thought. Inside that entrance there is a tunnel, leading to some room, some building, or perhaps to an unexpected, vaster space.

Text editor: Liang Xiao


Opening reception: 11.04.2026 (Sat) 15:00-18:00.