Artist Support Project | Sung Nam Han, Hand Grenade, or Heart,

Dates: December 6 (Sat) – December 27 (Sat), 2025
Venue: Space √K (√K Contemporary B1F)
Opening Hours: 1-7pm
Closed: Sundays and Mondays

Special Lighting Support: Taira Ichikawa

From December 6, Saturday, we will host Sung Nam Han’s Hand Grenade, or Heart, , as part of √K Contemporary’s Artist Support Project at Space √K, located on the basement level of the gallery. 

Sung Nam Han, Hand Grenade, or Heart,

Inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic, Han developed the concept of an art museum viewable only underwater, and launched the Japan Undersea Art Museum in 2022, the first initiative of its kind in Japan.

Designed specifically for the display of contemporary art, this project represents the world’s first underwater contemporary art museum and offers a new perspective on modern society by tracing human activity beneath the sea. Through the experience of viewing artworks underwater, the project also explores expanded possibilities for perception, bodily awareness, imagination, creativity and underwater activities.

Because viewing art underwater allows visitors to experience a near-weightless state through neutral buoyancy, the Space √K exhibition experiments with a spatial composition in which the gallery’s vertical orientation is rotated by 90 degrees.

The exhibition will also feature weekly performances, and additionally, the video work on view will be updated with new content every Friday, making this a dynamically evolving and highly experimental show.

■ Performance
* Exhibited works may be viewed at any time during the performance, except on December 11.

– December 11 (Thu), 19:00–19:30 《Viola and Video Night》 “War and Peace”
A real-time video performance using manual drone operation
Viola: Yukiko Morimoto
Admission: Donation
* Please note that the exhibit will be closed from 18:30 to 19:00 for preparation.

– December 18 (Thu), 13:00–19:00 《All-day performance by Sung Nam HAN 》
*Due to the nature of the performance, the artist will not be available for conversation. Thank you for your understanding.
Admission: Free

– December 20 (Sat) 《Concept-stage Screening Event》”Underwater Socialism (WIP)”
Screening Time
Part 1 13:30–
Part 2 15:30–
Part 3 17:30–

* Each screening (approx. 1 hour) will be followed by a short 15-minute talk.
* Please note that seating is limited due to the spatial layout of the venue.
Admission: Free

December 25 (Thu), 13:00–19:00 《All-day performance by Sung Nam HAN 》
*Due to the nature of the performance, the artist will not be available for conversation. Thank you for your understanding.
Admission: Free