For the first edition of the picture book ma-eum: Wandernde Gemüter in German, einBuch.haus invites the illustrator Jeong Hwa Min to a solo exhibition.

ma-eum is a series of paintings in which the artist collects and documents ma-eum* that exist within her but have been forgotten, hidden, or neglected. The process of numbering the ma-eum, taking note of their condition, and documenting their proper storage is similar to the process of collecting to create a personal herbarium.

*ma-eum:
1. The character or personality of a person.
2. Feelings and thoughts that arise in or are triggered by another person or thing in a person.
3. A space or place where a person’s thoughts, feelings, memories, etc., originate or settle.

The Korean word 마음ma-eum means heart, mind, and spririts in English. In this book, the artist presents the ma-eum as an individual personality with its own life force — a collection of feelings and thoughts that have condensed over time. The ma-eum can go through many different states in a person: it can become softer or harder, smaller or larger. As it arises due to a circumstance or developments within a person, it can also leave them again once the event ends. Most ma-eum pass away naturally and gently like morning dew on a meadow, while others last longer and require care. Accordingly, the illustrated book is divided into three chapters: wandering minds, the care, and the wind. einBuch.haus exhibits paintings, books, and ceramic sculptures that are also depicted in the publication. The main wall of the gallery shows a site-specific wall drawing inspired by Chaekgeori**. With the expansion and transfer into the exhibition space, Min wanted to capture a scene from the flowing narrative of the time-based medium of the book to let the ma-eum linger in the exhibition. The still scene is a peaceful time for the ma-eum to rest. Chaekgeori (Korean: 책거리, translated as “books and things”) refers to an arrangement of books, shelves, various objects, and treasures in Korean genre painting during the Joseon Dynasty. This depiction of collected objects is considered an expression of positive wishes for health, happiness, wealth, and abundance. In this sense, Min’s publication deals with the timeless beauty and power of past moments.