For South Korean-born, New Orleans-based artist Hannah Jo, 'home' has never been a fixed location. Growing up bouncing between the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Korea, she essentially lived out of two suitcases. This constant movement deeply affected her sense of belonging, leading her to question her identity, her likes, and her artistic direction.
To find stability, Hannah turned to photography. What began as a way to make sense of the external world through street photography has evolved into a deep, internal investigation of the human condition.
Hannah’s struggle with identity manifested early on through her name. Born Jungbom, she grew up self-conscious that her Korean name was considered 'too boyish.' At age 15, upon moving to the Philippines, she adopted the Anglicised name 'Hannah.'
While it helped her blend in and navigate a new environment and language, the name 'Hannah' became a mask - a way to feel safe, but also a layer that separated her from her origins.
These questions of identity peaked in 2019 after a move to Savannah, Georgia. Feeling isolated and worried about her future, Hannah went to the beach on the night of a full moon. Under the moon’s glow, she finally felt a sense of oneness with the world.
That night, the Moon-Door project was born. A play on words, as 'door' is pronounced [mu:n] in Korean, the project represents an opening to her subconscious. Central to this work is the use of Mother of Pearl, a material deeply connected to a touching memory of her grandfather, a man of limited means but immense love, who once handcrafted a Mother of Pearl dresser for her grandmother when they couldn't afford to buy one.
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What is the Emoji Project?
Hannah’s journey doesn't stop at photography; she is now analysing the future of communication through digital symbols. To read about her fascination with Carl Jung and her 'Emoji Project,' check out the full feature in LIMINALITY, the 2nd volume of INTERLUNAR’s zine.
