' Hoeori (The Whirl) ' , 2026 ,

Fine art photograph, archival pigment print, framed, 40 × 50 cm

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This portrait captures an intimate family moment where care, affection, and connection are expressed through a familiar Korean ritual. In my family, hoeori (“whirl”) is the name given to a particular way of styling my niece Haru’s hair, a small ritual passed down through generations.

Through gesture and repetition, the image reflects on how memory, belonging, and family are carried forward through everyday acts of care. The act of styling hair becomes a quiet language of love and protection, revealing how family relationships are shaped not only through words, but through repeated gestures of presence and attention.

The work reflects on intergenerational care, exploring how love, belonging, and family rituals are carried from one generation to the next.