- On the CoverRed Cage Fungus
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I began painting fungi after reading Entangled Life by biologist Merlin Sheldrake, which gave me insight into both the secret lives of these organisms and the way science is deeply rooted in cultural perspective. Sheldrake describes the development of symbiosis as a scientific concept in the late 19th century with the discovery of lichen—a reciprocal arrangement between fungus and blue-green algae.
The Western scientific establishment rejected the notion of symbiotic relations, as it contradicted the belief in competition as evolutions primary driver. Competition is a prevailing theme in Western perspectives. In environmental historian William Cronons essay "The Trouble with Wilderness," the trouble is that the construct of wilderness produced the dualism that sets humanity and nature at opposite poles; wilderness is something that humans conquer. In Braiding Sweetgrass, botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer offers an alternate cultural tradition with the story of "Skywoman Falling," in which Skywoman initiates the covenant of reciprocity and symbiosis with the natural world.
Both science and art can help gain a broader understanding of the natural world in order for us t-o imagine more reciprocal relations. These paintings are my reflection of organisms that can teach us about living symbiotically in nature.
—Se Jong Cho, 2023 [End Page 2]
Born in Seoul, se jong cho makes art to explore the extents of her imagination and broaden the creative domain. She began painting while pursuing her PhD in environmental engineering at Johns Hopkins University. Her training as a scientist taught her to become observant and think critically, and she cultivated her brand of creative expression that combines multidisciplinary perspectives.