Experience the artwork of Mike Han in a one of a kind exhibition in Ann Arbor

WHO 

“The House of Han from A to D: A diptych exhibition by Mike Han in collaboration with CultureVerse” 

WHAT

Experience the artwork of Mike Han in a one of a kind exhibition, presented digitally and physically, in two separate venues.

The House of Han from A to D” examines the physical and digital lives we live and the impact we have on our environment through an experiential diptych exhibition. Han’s work explores sustainability and our perceptions of value by creating digital and analog works of art that are separate yet deeply connected.

The exhibition is gamified as collectors will have the opportunity to buy 1 of 50 NFTs in Ann Arbor (in person), which they can present in Detroit to receive an original print at no additional cost. The digital and physical work will create one connected work of art.

The drive from Ann Arbor to Detroit requires gas, and the physical artifact will be made with carbon emissions (AIR-INK). NFTs also require gas or a fee that covers the cost of minting an NFT. Through the artwork itself and the steps needed to acquire the artwork, Han seeks to connect the physical and digital worlds while illuminating the cost of acquiring things of value through participation and intentional acts. 

If both works are collected, the collector will be included in a drawing to win an invitation to Han’s apartment in downtown Detroit to experience his omakase sushi dinner, to connect more deeply, and to experience sustainability in an intimate and tangible way. Each collector may bring up to 3 guests (capacity is 4) with them to experience the omakase dinner.

As an artist, Han’s clients include Google for Startups, LinkedIn, and vitaminwater, and has works in the permanent collections of Shinola Hotel, Daxton Hotel, Henry Ford Health Systems, and Huntington Bank.

As a chef, Han opened NYC’s first sustainable sushi restaurant in 2017 which was rated as one of NYC’s best new restaurants by The Village Voice, opened Detroit’s first sustainable seafood concept in 2019, and has made sustainable sushi at the James Beard House. 

Components of this exhibition include:

  • In Person Gallery Exhibition & Reception – Ann Arbor, April 1, 2022 6:00 – 9:00 pm
    • April 1, 2022 – April 30, 2022
    • Hours: 
      • Thursday 4 pm – 8 pm
      • Friday 4 pm – 8 pm
      • Saturday 12 pm – 8 pm
      • Sunday 12 pm – 4 pm
    • Augmented Reality Mural in collaboration with BrandXR
    • “The House of Han” immersive digital gallery in collaboration with SaganWorks containing NFTs for purchase
    • 3D Sculptures made with participants using Han’s artwork
    • Beverages by Homes Brewery & Smooj
  • In Person Gallery Exhibition & Reception – Detroit, April 8, 2022 6:00 – 9:00 pm
    • April 8, 2022 – April 30, 2022
    • Hours: 
    • Mural
    • Paintings made with carbon emissions on hanji (traditional Korean paper)
    • Several archived works will also be on display
    • Food, cocktails by American Liquor, beer provided by Batch Brewing Co.

 

WHEN/WHERE

The virtual and in person experiences launch April 1, 2022 during a gallery reception at CultureVerse Gallery at 309 S. Main Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The second in-person gallery reception for physical artworks opens on April 8, 2022 from 6 pm – 9 pm at 211 Fort Street, Detroit, Michigan.

WHY

The CultureVerse mission is to serve the local and global community by expanding opportunities to access and experience projects, storytelling, and creative expression of artists, educators, students, and preservationists. We provide technology, training, consultation, and other resources in order to create equitable and sustainable opportunities. We aim to bridge the gap between creator and community so that all people may be enriched by the ever expanding breadth of art and knowledge.

As individuals and as a society we live in the intersection between life and technology. 

The diverse elements of The House of Han from A to D serve to explore new technologies and economic models for artists to connect with audiences. This exploration is anchored in a deep awareness of the physical, tangible, impact of digital media on our shared environment and wellbeing.  

ABOUT CULTUREVERSE

CultureVerse is a Michigan nonprofit corporation founded in May of 2021 whose mission is to serve the keepers, creators, and curators of art, culture, and knowledge. We do this by sharing digitized art and artifacts within immersive 3D environments. Our primary purpose is to help unseen things be seen as widely as possible. 

We utilize cutting edge technology such as 3D scanners and immersive 3D environments such as those built by SaganWorks. CultureVerse provides services to our partners free of charge. You can find our work online www.cultureverse.org as well as in our demonstration gallery at 309 S. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. 

Website: www.cultureverse.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CultureVerse2

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CultureVerse2

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-cAfBTEztetDCQlscfr0HQ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultureverse2/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cultureverse-usa/

Medium: https://creators-and-keepers.medium.com/

CultureVerse operates under fiscal sponsorship by Artrain and Fractured Atlas.

ABOUT MIKE HAN

Mike Han’s artwork is influenced by Korean calligraphy, graffiti, modern design, and cartoons. He strives for balance in his art while working to illuminate the ubiquitous truths of life that are too close for us to see.

Han says, “I find myself chasing my art as I seek to live life like the process of my painting. Through the work I strive to overcome anxiety and fear through organic mark-making in an effort to achieve balance. I create art to learn how to live, and I strive to live a life of purpose filled with joy, kindness, and generosity. With that, I believe the highest form of art is a life well lived. The paintings are moments, capturing time within a journey.”

 Han works on manufactured, hand crafted, and found objects to better understand and explore how to live well. This attention to materials is synergistic with his practice as a sustainable sushi chef. His work, whether with organic or inorganic materials, explores his identity as a Detroiter with Korean heritage, creation and consumption, and the ways in which we are all connected. 

Han’s practice is burdened and bolstered by the understanding that in order to create, you must destroy. From this truth, he describes his practice as Modern Vandalism. Modern Vandalism is the mindful act of destroying materials, products, and/or space in an effort to create value. “By being mindful of my impact as a creator and consumer, I hope to help others find the truths that hide in plain sight.”

Website: https://www.thehouseofhan.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikehan_detroit/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikehan17/