Detail: The Ryūgūjо̄ [竜宮城], or Dragon Palace, is a mythical undersea kingdom in East Asian folklore, often depicted as a magnificent, otherworldly palace beneath the ocean. In Japan, the legend of Ryūgūjо̄ appears in classical Japanese literature, including the Manyо̄shū (compiled in the late 8th century), Heiji Monogatari (compiled in the late 12th century), and Genpei Seisuiki (compiled in the late 13th century). In these stories, the palace is ruled by the dragon king Ryūjin [竜神], a powerful sea deity who controls the tides and storms. The story of Ryūgūjо̄ reflects the transience of life, the beauty of fleeting moments, and the connection between myth and reality.

The myth has inspired many interpretations, with locations across Japan claiming ties to the Ryūgūjо̄. Some of these places include Kagoshima, Okinawa (Ryūkyū), Nagasaki, Miyagi, and Shiga, regions closely connected to major bodies of water. In these areas, you can also find paintings, statues, temples, shrines, and tourist attractions inspired by the Ryūgūjо̄, showing how people have woven various stories from the same legend over generations.

In this exhibition, ETHEREAL: Interpretations of the Ryūgūjо̄ Myth by Dwight Hwang and Miki Yokoyama, two artists reimagine this myth through their practices of Gyotaku and mix media, exploring the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth beneath the waves.