Do You Breathe When You Scroll? The Art of Digital Mindfulness with conceptual artist Hojin Kang

What if the very technology that distracts us could be transformed into a mirror reflecting our deepest human connections? In this fascinating episode of Poets & Thinkers, we explore the intersection of tradition, technology, and mindfulness with Berlin-based artist and designer Hojin Kang. 

Born to Korean parents in Germany, Hojin creates art that brilliantly juxtaposes ancient spiritual practices with our modern digital behaviors, revealing striking parallels that challenge how we engage with the world around us.

Hojin takes us on a journey through his artistic evolution, from his early influences in both Korean Buddhist traditions and cutting-edge technology to his current work exploring human connection through thermal imaging. His provocative installations –from scrolling behaviors reimagined as prayer beads and notification bell sculptures that trigger visceral responses, to thermal imagining cameras in art and border surveillance  – expose the tension between our mindless digital habits and the mindful traditions they inadvertently mimic.

Throughout our conversation, Hojin reveals how his dual perspective as both artist and designer shapes his creative process, embracing curiosity and emotion while maintaining craftsmanship and quality. As we navigate an increasingly AI-driven world, his insights on maintaining human connection and embodied experiences offer a compelling vision for how we might engage with technology without losing our essential humanity.

In this thought-provoking discussion, we explore:

• How scrolling behaviors mirror ancient meditation practices while serving opposite purposes
• The physiological conditioning created by notification sounds and their artistic reimagining
• Why maintaining the mind-body connection is crucial in an increasingly digital world
• How thermal imaging can reveal the warmth that transcends physical and cultural differences
• The balance between artistic curiosity and design discipline in creative work

This episode is an invitation to pause and reconsider our relationship with technology, to find spaces for mindfulness in our digital lives, and to recognize the human warmth that binds us despite our superficial differences.

Topics

00:30 - Introduction to Hojin Kang and his background 

03:30 - Drawing inspiration from tradition and technology 

06:50 - The parallel between prayer beads and social media scrolling 

10:00 - The notification bell sculpture and our conditioned responses 

15:00 - Technology's impact on our emotional and physiological states 

18:40 - Art as observation rather than providing solutions 

22:50 - Using technology as a tool while maintaining emancipation from it 

28:00 - Cultivating curiosity about humanity above technology 

33:00 - The importance of embodied experiences and physical creation 

35:00 - "The Warmth That Binds Us" thermal imaging art project 

41:20 - How thermal imagery removes visual markers of difference 

44:00 - Balancing artistic expression with design discipline 

49:20 - The importance of intrinsic motivation in creating meaningful work

Resources Mentioned

Please Wait (Digital Installation): https://www.hojinkang.com/please_wait/

Scrolling Prayer Beads (Sculpture):

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