Photo © Colin Davison

Held at Tynemouth Bridge Gallery, North of the River, East of the Moon was a captivating installation by artist Yvette Ja. The exhibition celebrated the timeless allure of the moon and sea, drawing deeply from both Korean and British folklore. Timed to coincide with Korea’s Chuseok festival, the work explored the moon’s influence across navigation, harvest cycles, and cultural rituals spanning centuries in both Eastern and Western traditions.

Central to the installation was Ja’s innovative use of contemporary origami techniques. These delicate folded forms interacted with shifting light throughout the day, reflecting the transition from sunlight to moonlight and evoking the cyclical nature of time. Volunteers played a vital role in shaping the final works, contributing personal insights and collaborative energy to the evolving pieces.

Through a blend of traditional and contemporary media—including flowing sculptural forms that mimicked the ebb and flow of the tides and expansive watercolour paintings—visitors were invited to consider the ways in which celestial bodies influence human perception, memory, and movement.

Special thanks were extended to Mina Ahmed, Sachin Bahia, Jay Davison, Rowan Jennings, Dawn Felicia Knox, El Stott, Callum Webb, and the install team for their generous support and contributions.

Moon Book workshops with Yvette Ja took place at Globe Gallery in the weeks following the exhibition, supported by the North Shields Cultural Quarter and North Tyneside Art Studio.

North of the River, East of the Moon © Yvette Ja

Photo © Colin Davison