THE PERSISTENCE OF HOPE

The iconic elongated, melting clocks in Salvador Dali's painting The Persistence of Memory accurately capture the meaning of time as it relates to our unconscious. While we might think of time as being constantly in flux, humans can’t hold onto time. Even so, there are works by some artists – Dali being one of them – who have tried to capture the feeling of holding on to intangible time.


Several years ago, I began curating exhibitions in Korea. It was a difficult time in many ways. Raising money for these shows took work. Access to appropriate spaces in which to mount exhibitions was an inevitable challenge. One day, I happened to see a sign with the word ‘Hope’ on the road. The sign was standing in a rather dirty and messy place where people collected things thrown away. I received a strong message of hope at the moment. No matter how difficult, I felt it was more miserable to have no hope. This was a turning point for me.

What does an artist give us? I would like to think their work carries a message of hope. Thus, small matters can transform themselves into spiritual and emotional resilience and, in the process, become a sacrament that conveys the 'persistence of hope.' Could this be the understated message of Dali as well? Is it possible that the persistence of memory is also the persistence of hope?

Art Ego Gallery, which opened in January 2022, has held 3 solo and 4 group exhibitions, each of which convey a thematic message. It is with great enthusiasm that we continue our thematic exhibitions by welcoming the new year of 2023.