"Translating while living"

We are a Japanese wife, Misato, and a Korean husband, Siyoung, a couple from Japan and Korea. We grew up in different countries—Japan and Korea—and are currently living in Japan. Siyoung, the husband, left Korea and has lived in Japan for almost 18 years. His life’s work now involves creating music, educational materials, and devices using mathematics and programming. Misato, the wife, focuses on creating artwork centered around installation art, exploring expressions themed around the social landscapes hidden in everyday life.

Even among Japanese people, if they come from different regions, dialects and customs can vary, and when countries are different, the differences become even more pronounced. In a life shared by two people with different roots, it is important to understand that what is considered common sense and custom for one is not necessarily so for the other. We struggle with these differences every day, but at times, we also enjoy them.

The phrase “Living While Translating” expresses our daily life, where we often reflect on our own cultures while teaching each other about different cultures through our life together that transcends national boundaries.

In this exhibition, we present works created as part of our life’s work, reflecting on the realizations and discomforts we've felt during our life together as a Japanese-Korean couple. Through the works created in a life lived with different roots, we hope to provide an opportunity for others to think about what it means to live together with someone else.