A Vessel Embracing the Universe

Since my early days of wondering, “What should I paint?” I have reflected on my journey as an artist.

As a child, I was interested and drawn to the infinite expanse of the universe, and I once observed celestial stars through a telescope. The moon’s craters, Saturn’s rings, and other wonders filled me with a profound sense of mystery. These experiences naturally led me to become interested in the universe. One day, while studying art in college, I felt inspired to envision myself as a “•” (dot). Since then, I have embarked on a journey to understand and define this “•” as a starting point—a journey driven by contemplation and a heartfelt desire to discover my identity.

This journey began with an awareness of my existence. Through an Eastern perspective on nature, I have explored the self and the world. My work begins with self-awareness and explores questions about the essence of the relationship between the self and the universe. The themes of my work have included “Encounter of the Self and the Universe,” “Assimilation of the Self and Cosmos,” “Heaven and Earth,” and “Relationship of Life (relationship of spirit).”

The “Heaven and Earth” series represents the universe that embraces all things by depicting the forms of heaven and earth through circles and lines, expressing my awareness of existing between them.

The “Relationship of Life” series conveys the idea that all living beings in heaven and earth are connected as one in the Creator, restoring their spiritual lifeline. Through these works, I express hope for a world of “love and peace.”

Today, I have found my identity in the universe. Just as a star is born in the vast cosmos, I, too, came into being. The “•” represents both myself and the universe, signifying that we are inseparable. With the universe within me and me within the universe, I exist as a “cosmic being.” The “•” also symbolizes the cosmic cycle of returning to the origin.

My recent works focus on the vast universe: galaxies, the Milky Way, nebulae, and stars. The universe, born from a dot in the Big Bang, is where we began too. Carl Sagan once said, “We are made of star stuff.” I aimed to capture the cosmic quality of being both a part within whole, and a whole within a part. My wish is for the microcosm of myself and the macrocosm of the universe to merge as one. This is my heart becoming like the sun, ultimately uniting as one. The universe (“•”) embraces me, and I am the vessel that embraces the universe (“•”).

I aspire to capture not only the visible world but also the unseen spiritual world, expressing the universal truth and ultimate essence of the spirit beyond mere visual representation. In pursuit of the universal truth of the spiritual realm, including its ultimate essence, I sought to move beyond visual representation to artistically embody the meeting point where emotions of the heart and spiritual contemplation converge.

To convey interconnectedness, I sought materials that could embody this essence in my artistic expression to align with this philosophical exploration. To translate inspiration into form, I used various materials such as Hanji (Korean paper), acrylic paint, oriental dye, soil, stone powder, and mulberry bark on canvas. Recently, I have been using embossed Hanji. To convey the interconnectedness of life and energy in the universe, I utilized the embossing of Hanji to evoke the sense of a spiritual lifeline and represent cosmic relationships. I also aimed to depict paint merging into Hanji, showing a coexistence rather than a separation between the physicality of the paint and the canvas. The texture of Hanji allowed me to achieve this, as it harmonizes well with water-based materials, such as acrylic paint, oriental dye, and Chinese ink.

I hope that many people, while viewing my work, will discover the connection between themselves and the universe and engage in self-reflection through this cosmic journey.