Oi-ee Moochim

Abstract

손 맛 (son-maat), directly translating to hand-flavor is a Korean phrase that expresses the intimate connection between an individual's tactile sensibilities and the food they prepare. Within the domestic space, this hand-flavor symbolizes the unique taste imparted by love and care, creating flavors that cannot be easily replicated. This essence is often passed down through generations, becoming a cherished cultural inheritance that evolves over time. Hand flavor is a defining aspect of one’s identity and personalized essence. I use the notion of hand-flavor as framework to provide context for my research and studio practice. In doing so, I unfold the complexities of labor that are often associated with the expression of one’s hand-flavor. I interweave materials emblematic of a South Korean immigrant household, through which I am able to investigate the intricacies of my relationship from everything between the familiar and my sphere of life in Koreatown, Los Angeles to contextualize my methodologies.