Mutual Ten Worlds

“Mutual Ten Worlds” is an installation that visualizes the Buddhist concept of the "Ten Worlds." These refer to ten states of existence, from the realm of Hell to the realm of Buddhahood. They are not external realms, but rather psychological conditions that exist within the human mind. These states are said to constantly change from moment to moment and can simultaneously exist within any individual.

Furthermore, according to the doctrine of "Mutual Possession of the Ten Worlds", each of the ten states contains all of the other nine, resulting in a total of 100 complex and mutually interrelated states of being.

In this work, these 100 states are expressed through the use of ten digits—0 through 9—and ten different colors, which continuously shift and transform over time. Each number symbolizes “life”, while the absence of a number—a blank space—represents “death” or “emptiness”. This cycle of life and death expresses both the transience and the eternal rhythm of existence.

The LED numbers change at different tempos, never in sync. This reflects the idea that while each person experiences reality differently, we are nonetheless all interconnected. The structure as a whole becomes a metaphor for human society—an ever-changing network of inner worlds resonating with one another.

This work visualizes both the individual self and the relational nature of human existence. It poses questions such as "What is the self?" and "How do we live in relation to others?" It is a space for deeply reflecting on the multilayered nature of human interiority and the interdependent nature of our collective existence.

Jun, 2025