Placemaking transcends historical markers but is rooted in everyday occurrences, the buildup of relationships, colloquial sayings, the environment, shared sentiments, and bodily gestures. This exhibition examines scenes of Kentucky placemaking that hold resonance, reverence, and vibrancy through texture, aural and oral signifiers, myths, and gestures that are specific to the region.

This exhibition consists of outdoor video programs that will take place throughout the state of Kentucky. The exhibition will travel to six different venues occurring once a month from June to November 2025. The participating venues are Institute 193 (Lexington, KY),  KMAC Contemporary Art Museum (Louisville, KY), Josephine Sculpture Park (Frankfort, KY), Bernheim Forest and Arboretum (Clermont, KY), The Carnegie (Covington, KY), Eastern Kentucky Gallery (Richmond, KY).

Portals, Pathways, and the Space Between Us is curated by Sso-Rha Kang, Curator at The Carnegie, and is part of KADIST’s ongoing international program Double Takes, which activates film and video works through physical and online presentations at partner institutions and on KADIST.tv.

Sso-Rha Kang is an educator and curator based in Cincinnati, OH. She is the Curator for The Carnegie (Covington, KY). From 2021-2023 she served as the Director of Galleries and Outreach at Northern Kentucky University 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 from 2017-2023 at institutions such as, The University of Cincinnati, The Art Academy of Cincinnati, and Northern Kentucky University. Additionally, she has curated exhibitions for Wave Pool, Pearlman Gallery, Third Space Gallery, The Weston, and The Contemporary Arts Center. She was 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.

KADIST is non-profit contemporary art organization that believes artists make an important contribution to a progressive society through their artwork, which often addresses key issues relevant to the present day. Dedicated to exhibiting the work of artists—from more than one hundred countries—represented in its collection, KADIST affirms contemporary art’s role within social discourse, and facilitates new connections across cultures.

Its local hubs in Paris and San Francisco organize exhibitions, physical and online programs, and host residencies. KADIST stays apprised of developments in contemporary art via a global advisor network, and develops collaborations internationally, including with leading museums, fostering vibrant conversations about contemporary art and society.