The Deers Dance (sorrowful animal with your extended neck), 2023

By: Sarah Kaye

The Deers Dance (sorrowful animal with your extended neck) is a visual investigation of the diasporic experience and the search for a place to call home. It references the story of King Dongmyeong and the white deer, as recounted in Yi Gui-bo’s book “Dongukisanggukjip” (동국이상국집). The King hung a white deer upside down and prayed for rain. As the deer cried out, she moved the heavens and god brought rain acting as a channel between earth and heaven, a liminal space. In Bonghwa, North Gyeongsang Province 2004, a white deer was kicked to death by other deers eight days after birth, a harsh reminder of the fragility of life and the inevitability of death.

In this piece, the deer in fluid motion, a sweet dance, is contrasted with the imagery of roadkill, illustrating the precariousness of their existence. Their movements are a symbol of the diasporic experience, with the constant search for belonging represented by their upward motion toward and beyond the red dot.

The title of this work pays homage to early-modern poet Noh Chunmyeong’s work “Deer” and the solace it embodies as she quotes “You sorrowful animal with your extended neck, you hailed from a proud and respected race, with your sweet-smelling antlers”. Through this piece, I aim to explore the ways in which different bodies are simultaneously idolized and attacked, themes of loss and belonging, as well as the interplay between myth and reality. By juxtaposing the ancient legend of King Dongmyeong with the modern-day story of the white deer and roadkill imagery, I hope to encourage viewers to reflect on their own ideas, see themselves reflected within the piece, and explore their personal experiences with migration.