Bill Burns and Yeni Ma | It’s the Sun and Rain that Makes the Salt and Goats and Honey Bees

Bill Burns and Yeni Ma

It’s the Sun and Rain that Makes the Salt and Goats and Honey Bees

Seoul, Korea: The Oil Tank Culture Project, 2026

144 pp., 14 x 20 cm., softcover

Edition of 190

"It’s the Sun and Rain that Makes the Salt and Goats and Honey Bees was a happening involving more than a dozen farmers, beekeepers, musicians, goats and farmers at and around Seoul. The project was a collaboration with dramaturg Yeni Ma. Goats were milked, bees provided honey, and salt was harvested from the sea. Bankers planted a pollinator garden, children tasted the goat’s milk infused with salt and honey and players dressed as a donkey, a goat and a honey bee carried the milk, honey and salt across the city until it was finally mixed together at the Oil Tank Culture Park at Seoul. The happening was directed by Mr. Burns who also mixed the milk, honey and salt and made the drawings in this book. The dramaturg was Yeni Ma. The associate producer was Juwon Park. The players were Dongsol Seo, Hyeyoung Na, Yeji Lim. The violinist was Hyojin Kan. The goat farmer was Youngki Min. The principal beekeeper was Jin Park. The salt was procured at Sorae Salt Farm. Costume design was by Pascale Déry. Photography was by Chul-lim Choi and Bill Burns.

Graphic Design and typography of this book is by Seoul-based graphic designer Gunjung Lee, whose award-winning work often blurs the lines between typography and image. The book includes many pictures and words, including a meandering conversation between Yeni Ma and Bill Burns touching on the joys and contradictions of consumer culture, container shipping, acceleration, slow farming and collaboration between species.”

- publisher’s statement

The book launches with a signing at Art Metropole tomorrow, Saturday August 29th, from two to four PM.

Addition events will take place at Marcus Campbell Art Books, London, England (September 19, 2:00 - 4:00 PM),  Bienal de Curitiba, MON, Curitiba, Brazil, (November 14,  2:00 - 4:00 PM) and Cite des Arts, Paris, France (February 6, 2027 2:00 - 4:00 PM).