Elly Cho's artistry, rooted in the synergy of nature, the environment, and human dynamics, spans film, video, and performance art. Celebrated for her creative flair, she boasts accolades like Best Experimental Film at notable festivals. Her academic journey traverses from the Slade School of Fine Art in London to Columbia University in New York, culminating in a BA, an MFA, and an MA.
Cho's "Island," a silent exposition, metaphorically and literally illustrates island life, influenced by her time in London, Manhattan, and Jeju Island. She equates the dance in "Island" to her drawing process, describing both as meditative acts where creativity flows unbounded, akin to the pencil traversing paper in mechanical drawing, revealing the unexplored corners of her mind.
Amid the pandemic, Cho was driven to create "Island," blending the mundane with a fantasy/paradise duality. This narrative, sprawling across three nations, delves into self-discovery amidst solitude and isolation, highlighting the resilience of the human spirit. The film interweaves her dance and drawing, portraying life's sanctuary and a journey rife with conflicting feelings of freedom and constraint, mirroring the dance's fluidity and the stark emotional shifts of her mechanical drawings.
"Island" reflects her philosophical quest for hope and identity, using dance and drawing to articulate the emotional and psychological struggles. The contrasting black and white in her costumes and the swordplay articulate the internal conflicts faced in isolation. Thus, Cho's work, particularly in "Island," is not just a performance but a profound exploration of identity, memory, and existence, capturing the essence of her artistic and personal journey.