In this video by Jaehun Park, a candle burns and melts over the course of exactly one hour. The object carries a wealth of metaphors: life and death, time, hope, vulnerability – echoes of still lifes and Richter’s paintings. For Park, the candle also represents democracy and awakening, tied to the South Korean protest movement. At the same time, the work reflects tension with censorship: the candle was restricted by the press and media following the presidential impeachment in 2016.
A simple object, burning quietly, yet carrying political and social resonance, inviting the viewer to reflect on freedom, censorship, and collective consciousness.