Knuka Knayu

Knuka Knayu is a multidisciplinary artist based in London, originally from Korea. They graduated from Goldsmiths College studying BA Fine Art (Hons) prior to RCA. They seek to temporarily invoke a state of ‘becoming’ rather than ‘being’; a constantly shifting threshold within the absent and invisible. They use ‘Chaos’ as a method to direct their work and a use of ‘making strange’ as a focal point to bring about new modes of stimulation. Knayu interrogates their queerness, and mythological identity to break through collective confusion in order to behold spiritual agendas.

Their work is predominantly performance and includes speech, improvisations, choreography, poems and prose. The work incorporates participatory elements and spatially dominated installations that include diagrams, drawings, paintings, sculptures, sounds/music, costumes and videos. 

They fabricate disturbing and also comforting, non-linear situations, showing similarities with familiar environments, i.e. weather forecasts, funeral/wedding, comedy/quiz show, therapy session, funfair, meditation environment, horror film scene etc., subtly exaggerating and twisting familiar materials to incorporate reimagined mythological narratives and alternate historical meanings; appearing to be simultaneously archaic and contemporary.

Their practice corresponds with their anthropological research, interactions, and investigations through experiences with shamans, alchemists, cult religion members, paranormal investigators, treasure hunters, conspiracy theorists, prophets and occult groups to aggregate a shadow of social norms, structures, and boundaries which become vantage points of illusive realities. 

They consistently embody and perform monstrous and flamboyant characters outside of the ambit of conventional performance; challenging witness’ social/cultural boundaries. Through the investigations and embodiment of various characters, they receive signals and convert them to create tangible (or intangible) realms.