Yehwan Song's Dystopian Digital Installations Critique Internet Utopianism

Yehwan Song, a Korean artist, creates multimedia pieces that scrutinize overly positive views of digital technology. Her work, which includes installations, videos, and websites that don't prioritize user experience, delves into the influence of algorithms on online interactions. Recently, she showcased her art at G Gallery in Seoul and Pioneer Works in New York. One of her notable pieces, The Barnacles (2025), utilizes modular cardboard screens to project videos of hands and crustaceans. This installation presents the internet as a passive filtering mechanism rather than an expansive source of information. Drawing visual cues from science fiction films like Blade Runner (1982) and Ghost in the Shell (1995), Song raises concerns about whether the promises of technology truly align with reality.