Sacred Tree: Summoning Gelora (신목, 神木)

Sacred Tree: Summoning Gelora is an interactive XR work that reimagines the traditional Korean sacred tree as a shared sanctuary for people of all backgrounds. Inspired by shinmok (a living tree where villages gather to connect with the unseen) and seonangdang (the communal space for making offerings), this piece brings ancient rituals of connection into the modern world through the lens of a mobile phone.

The heart of the project comes from a deeply personal experience of living as an alien in a foreign country. Walking down unfamiliar streets, the artist began collecting fallen flowers that were overlooked and disconnected from their roots, yet still held a quiet, vital energy. Carefully preserved and scanned, each flower was brought back to life as a digital creature called Gelora (a blend of "gel" for preservation and "flora" for nature). These creatures gather around a central tree, guided by traditional East Asian beliefs that connect specific colors to the directions, seasons, and natural elements.

To awaken a Gelora, visitors must physically bend down and bring their phone close to hidden points near the ground. This simple, humble movement is not just a way to trigger the technology. It intentionally mirrors the artist's own act of picking up a discarded flower. The act of bowing down is the ritual. As the digital creatures appear on the screen, the surrounding music responds. The sounds breathe and shift in time with the visitor's movements, creating a deeply personal atmosphere that never plays the same way twice.

When exhibited at the HOZO Tết City Festival in Ho Chi Minh City, the human connection was immediate. Without needing any instructions or translated signs, people naturally reached toward the earth. The creatures appeared, and a silent bond was formed. Sacred Tree shows that technology does not have to be cold or distant. Through a simple, shared physical gesture, we can build a profound bridge of empathy across different cultures.

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