The texture of survival: Youngju Joung's new works at Almine Rech Tribeca

Almine Rech New York, Tribeca is presenting 'Pause and Flow,' Youngju Joung’s second solo exhibition with the gallery, on view from March 13 to April 25, 2026. From an elevation, the roof tops of Korean homes made of tiles, corrugated metal, tarp, or any makeshift material that dress the hills in the outskirts of Seoul appear enchanting. Perhaps that alone makes the dal dong nae, or “moon village,” denoting slums or shanty towns, deserving of depiction and memorialization – indeed, South Korean films and dramas frequently feature these panoramic views of the city. But to make these villages the fixation of one’s work feels fraught, due to the painful history of South Korea’s modernization. Artist Youngju Joung could not be indifferent to this, as she was born in Seoul’s dal dong nae in 1970. To be born in 1970 means Joung’s life began during a time where there was immense nationwide effort to modernize