Esther Jihye Cho: Between Memory

Don't Bare Those Feet
May 2023

Common Wealth Gallery, Wisconsin

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​Don’t Bare Those Feet is a sculptural exploration of the unwritten, restrictive values placed on women through traditional Korean customs. Inspired by an awkward first encounter with my grandmother-in-law, who reminded me, "You might not know this because you're American, but it's disrespectful to enter an elder's home barefoot." In this moment, I felt my body tense, rooted in place as my back straightened, my knees pressed together, and my feet seemed to fuse to the floor. The sculpture captures this physical embodiment of cultural pressure and reflects my struggle to reconcile the demands placed on women with my own sense of self.

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In Korean culture, women are often expected to prioritize family, particularly childbearing, over their careers. These pressures extend beyond motherhood, encompassing household responsibilities and maintaining a conservative appearance. As I entered this new chapter of life, adopting the roles society and family had defined for me, I felt the tension between my identity and these expectations intensify. The piece embodies the discomfort of navigating these expectations while negotiating my place between two cultures, where compliance feels more like a constraint.

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Through this piece, I address the deeper, often unspoken societal expectations that shape the roles of “good wife, good mother” within Korean culture. The work speaks to the lingering fear that, despite evolving attitudes, I might be destined to repeat the same patterns of expectation and duty. It examines identity, labor, and the female body within the context of marriage and the conservative norms that still persist across generations. ​

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photos by Jim Escalante. video by Aaron Granat.

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