[K-ART FOCUS] For Ba He-jum, bitcoin and breastfeeding are not so far apart
What do cryptocurrency charts, breastfeeding and mother conches have in common? For Korean painter Ba He-jum, the answer is not merely an unlikely combination. It is an invitation to look again at the abstract forces already shaping everyday life. In her recent solo exhibition, “Awakened,” Ba brings together the fluctuating lines of crypto markets, the unruly physicality of milk and pregnancy,…
![[K-ART FOCUS] For Ba He-jum, bitcoin and breastfeeding are not so far apart](/img/6740379)
What unexpected connections can there be between the world of cryptocurrency, the natural act of breastfeeding, and the mysteries of the ocean? Korean artist Ba He-jum believes these seemingly disparate elements are more linked than one might think. This is the central theme of her recent solo exhibition, "Awakened," which showcased the artist's unique perspective.
Held at Mahkjip, a hanok-based space in Seoul's Samcheong neighborhood, the show ran from August 29th to September 5th during Seoul Art Week, marking Ba's first solo exhibition in Seoul since joining the gallery's roster last year.
The exhibition featured eight new paintings, among them "Milk of a Bitcoiner-Mother" (2026), "There Is an Ocean in the Pregnant Belly" (2024-2026) and "I Envy the Mother Conches" (2026). Ba's ability to find common ground in unlikely combinations is a defining aspect of her artistic identity. Born in Seoul in 1987, Ba studied painting and printmaking at Ewha Womans University and the State Academy of Art and Design.
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