Title
댕기 daeng-gi
댕기 daeng-gi
Date, Place
2023.10.02 Seoul,Korea
2023.10.02 Seoul,Korea
Medium
Synthetic fiber
Solid Gel
Synthetic fiber
Solid Gel
The daenggi hairstyle (daenggi: a traditional Korean ribbon used to tie braided hair), part of traditional Korean attire for centuries across all social classes, became rare even in rural areas after Western perms were introduced in 1937 and even more so after Korea's liberation. However, this hairstyle remains familiar to me. As a child learning the gayageum (gayageum: a traditional Korean 12-stringed zither) and pansori (pansori: a traditional Korean genre of musical storytelling), I participated in various competitions and performances, and each time, my teacher or parents would braid my hair into daenggi braids or jjokjin chignons. These hairstyles hold precious memories of my childhood and traces of my ancestors' cultural heritage.
It is said that our ancestors would tie their daenggi hair into an updo at weddings as a symbolic first step into adulthood. For me, daenggi represents not only those childhood memories but also the purity and boundless creativity before stepping into adulthood, serving as an object of inspiration that connects me to my younger self. This piece, where the daenggi is symbolically transplanted onto my nails, is a journey back to that time, capturing the freedom and creative passion of my youth, reinterpreted with a modern touch by using a red ribbon in place of the traditional daenggi. Additionally, CHIMERA’s logo, inspired by the daenggi, reflects the brand’s aspiration to retain a pure and childlike perspective and unrestrained creativity into adulthood.