Young Joon Kwak Trans 삼태극, 2025

Young Joon Kwak Trans 삼태극, 2025

Flashe vinyl paint, glass rhinestone on birch panel

ø 121,9 x 7 cm
Inquire
As Young Joon Kwak writes about the work, "The ancient sacred 삼태극 is a uniquely Korean variant of the yin-yang symbol, with a traditionally yellow third portion representing humanity, alongside red and blue for earth and heaven. In this work, I replace those traditional national colors with the light blue, light pink, and white of the transgender pride flag—a now universal visual shorthand for trans identity and solidarity across global contexts.

In contrast to the more open-ended and abstracted nature of some of my other works, Trans 삼태극 offers an urgent reclamation of the symbolism of universal harmony—radiating its glow onto the other works in the exhibition as a gesture of radical inclusion for the trans community in Korea and its diasporas, at a time when trans people face increasing violence, erasure, and marginalization globally.


While I always invite viewers from all walks of life to bring their own reflections and interpretations, I felt it vital to include this work as a clear beacon of trans recognition and solidarity—illuminating those who have long existed in the shadows of Korean history. Its shimmer stands as a gesture of remembrance, resilience, and hope in these precarious times for transgender people worldwide."

2 of 11