Sculpture,
captivated by the way it allows me to shape raw materials into something deeply personal and one-of-a-kind. Handmade artwork has an irreplaceable value that no machine or digital process can replicate, carrying a distinct mark of the artist’s touch. Each piece I create is singular and unique, embodying a sense of individuality that mass production can’t achieve. To me, the value of sculpture lies in this authenticity and the connection it forms between creator and viewer.
01
Seeds of Self-Worth
The different components required to develop self-esteem are symbolically expressed in this piece of art. It illustrates how we foster our sense of self-worth by showing the process of identifying and addressing our own shortcomings. The composition offers a therapeutic message about self-awareness and developing oneself by fostering fundamental traits. It highlights that self-esteem is a process of self-discovery and development rather than something that is bestowed from without. In the end, giving oneself "nourishment" establishes the foundation of self-worth, demonstrating that genuine self-esteem develops internally via self-awareness and personal development.
02
Beneath the Surface
When I was a child, "City of Ember" enthralled me with its enigmatic underground city setting. The thought of a civilization surviving in a dimly lit city with only lightbulbs for power captivated me. It was a world where sunlight is replaced by flickering light and shadows linger in the sewer's depths below. I recreate that vision—a complex, dark underground city—in this piece. The city's sense of hidden wonder and precarious survival beneath the surface is captured by the glow cast by dim, warm lightbulbs that hang from the ceiling.
03
Pigs in Beauty's Name
This piece of art challenges Korea's fixation on beauty, where ugly features are frequently described with terms like "pig" or "pumpkin." Due to their extreme sensitivity to appearance, many Korean women turn to plastic surgery in an attempt to conform to social expectations. The artist examines the alteration of "pig-like" features in this work, as well as the cultural desire to change the eyes, nose, and jaw in clinics to resemble factory-produced mass-produced goods. The artwork parodies the commodification of physical appearance and the standardized standards of beauty in contemporary Korean society by drawing attention to this trend.
04
Life on the Edge
This piece of art uses a polar bear in the shape of a skull to support the Earth or glacier, symbolically representing the crisis of climate change and global warming. The wood-crafted skull alludes to the Arctic ecosystem's precarious state and the species' imminent extinction. The wooden skull represents the deteriorating foundations of our ecosystem and the gradual death of life and nature.
The polar bear's standing serves as an example of how vulnerable its natural habitat is and how it is no longer able to support itself. Earth's ecosystem is in danger of collapsing, and this powerful imagery makes it clearly apparent that we must act to stop environmental degradation and climate change. The article emphasizes how threats posed by polar bears impact not just the bears but also all of humanity.
