Exhibitions as Worldbuilding with Sso-Rha Kang

Join us for a creative conversation and lecture from curator Sso-Rha Kang who will discuss how exhibition planning and design is a form of worldbuilding.

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

(on view March 14–August 16, 2025, curated by Sso-Rha Kang, The Carnegie Gallery) broadly explores the theme of ritual—from objects that we hold with reverence, to superstitions that dictate behavior, and systems that maintain or subvert expectations. Oscillating between the sacred and banal, rituals can take the form of gestures, words, and objects that weave between personal, professional, or cultural spaces. They can be spiritual, meaningless, self-imposed, socially regulated, strictly adhered to, or broken. Rituals are a form of world building with the ability to create atmospheres and conjure moods, which can produce tremendous affect ranging from paranoia, fear, comfort, safety, and joy.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Sso-Rha Kang is an educator and curator based in Cincinnati, OH, who has served as the Curator for The Carnegie Gallery since 2023. Prior to this, she served as the Director of Galleries and Outreach at Northern Kentucky University from 2021, where she curated exhibitions, performances, and organized events with an emphasis on cross disciplinary collaboration. Her research interests delve into areas of institutional critique, blankness, and aesthetic experience. She has taught at institutions such as, The University of Cincinnati (Department of Anthropology and School of Art), The Art Academy of Cincinnati, and Northern Kentucky University. Additionally, she has curated exhibitions for Wave Pool, The Carnegie, Pearlman Gallery, Third Space Gallery, and The Contemporary Arts Center. She is currently one of two Consulting Curators for the state of Ohio in the exhibition New Worlds: Women to Watch (2024) for the National Museum for Women in the Arts in Washington, DC.

Host or Publisher Taft Research Center