Explore an immersive album that spotlights Korea’s endangered plants

A new project and album by Korean audio-visual artist Kohui, ‘Record For Disappearing Beings’, dives into the uniqueness of his native country’s endangered plants.

Blending organic ambient sounds with interactive visuals and scientific data, the project spotlights three plants found in Korea – Mankyua chejuense, Oberonia japonica and Liparis auriculata – with each accompanied by a corresponding soundtrack and visual graphic annotations.

Kohui, whose work explores connections between sound and the natural world, travelled with ecologists from Korea’s National Institute of Ecology to Jeju Island, which is located off the southern coast of Korea, to create the project. There he began moving around its diverse landscapes – from the Hallasan Mountain to the Bijarim Forests – in search of the rare, unique plant species that are found in the region, all while coping with challenging conditions and terrain.

To compose each track, he used data from the growth patterns, survival techniques and local environments of each plant to create an ‘algorithm score’, interwoven visuals and sound that illustrate the unique peculiarities of each species.

The artist, a repeat performer at the influential MUTEK festival of radical art, described this process as "the act of sensing sound," creating an elevated sensory experience that blurs the lines between the self and surroundings.

The project comes as part of the Artlab Digital Commission, which brings artists and audiences together via exhibitions, research and cross-boundary collaborations.

Track Descriptions:

'Clique': Mankyua chejuense

“I found its clustered growth pattern beautiful. Since it clones itself, I amusingly thought that even if there’s only one individual, it wouldn’t feel lonely like other plants might.”

'Penumbra': Oberonia japonica

“This plant is not easily found; you need to look up and carefully inspect the trees, as it often hides in areas without much light. However, sometimes, light catches it, revealing its presence. This made me think of how it exists on the boundary between light and shadow, revealing and hiding itself.”

'Flow': Liparis auriculata

“There’s a stream flowing in front of where the Liparis auriculata grows, and in the distance, I can hear the sound of passing cars. I imagined the Liparis auriculata observing these flows and listening to the water.”

See a teaser of the record below, and visit Hyundai Artlab to experience ‘Record for Disappearing Beings’ in full.