Korean bridal mask, wedding headpiece, and background
And, over the sea, abstract obstacles.
I expressed my journey toward finding happiness by borrowing motifs from the play The Blue Bird by Maurice Maeterlinck. The captivating bluebird in my painting symbolizes my fulfillment and joy in life. Other items scattered around the canvas convey my struggle to cope with my Korean identity in a foreign country by hiding it and eventually realizing that the bluebird was always on my shoulder.
Why did I cry about my empty cage?
Dilemma
I adopted pointillism to express my fascination with the awkward beauty of microplastic. The female figure represents Mother Earth covered with plastic particles.
I and the Village
Acrylic on canvas
The work was inspired by one of Marc Chagall's paintings. I tried to put myself (symbolically and not in physical form) from a foreign country turning into the village I now live in. Mother Earth hands me the branch that grows in me with golden branches and leaves and I become transformed and immersed into the village I tried to put myself (symbolically and not in physical form) from a foreign country turning into the village (Lake Oswego) I now live in. Mother Earth hands me the branch that grows in me with golden branches and leaves and I become transformed and immersed into the village. If you look at the hands, they are not the same. The one touching my face is mine but the other hand is not.
Backstage
Acrylic on canvas
A dancer is waiting backstage for her performance. Golden waves and geometric patterns represent the vibe and energy of the performance about to be given and the energy of the audience. Tried to capture the beauty of the costume with various shapes and patterns.
Red Dream #9
Acrylic on canvas
She is dreaming about the coming spring, warm, strong, and hopefully red.
Love Letter
Acrylic on canvas
The feeling of the moment she got a letter from her lover. It is not even opened yet, but she is floating. Heavily textured by thick paint layers and beads.
Dancer #77
Charcoal on paper
Dancer #73
Charcoal and yarn on paper
Flower, Nothing but a Gesture.
Mix media
Before I called her name, she was nothing more than a gesture.
When I called her name, she came to me and became a flower.
Charcoal on paper