Hye Yeon Nam has studied on various gaps derived from a cultural or social difference between Korea and Western society. Especially she has created performance, media, and video works related to Asian women's identity as a minority in a global world dominated by Western culture. 4-channel video 'Self-portrait' in 2006 shows the performance, living with improper tools and ways. Such passive departure reminds of fine gaps possibly happening in a forceful and exclusive scope. This expression of the gap implies that there is 'the outside' a crossing the reality and stationarity for both majority in the U.S. and minority, immigrants. 

The video in the new exhibition, 'Cheeeese' shows a close-up of the artist's mouth with laughing for 5 minutes. Reminding of Yoko Ono's 'Smile' in 1966, her work consists of performance that she keeps smiling as long as possible. As maximizing 'discomfort,' it is included in 'naturalness.' Social relationships are composed by improving and justifying process of maximized discomfort and relationship of inner power as the neutral way.
The artist's work shows stationarity awakened as repeating actions in abnormal category. 
- Jin Sang Yoo (professor)

*image (left)
Hye Yeon Nam
Hooray #2 (detail), 2014
wood, light sensor, mortor, power, 51×45×6cm
courtesy of the artist