BIOGRAPHY
The memories of my childhood at my grandmother’s house, where I gazed through the worn, translucent layers of Hanji (Korean rice paper) stretched over wooden window frames, poking holes and doodling on its surface, became the root of my artistic inspiration.
During university, I majored in fine art using Hanji, focusing on material research and color relationships. Winning the Special Prize at the Korean Grand Art Exhibition twice, in 1986 and 1988, strengthened my confidence in my artistic path. I have since explored experimental work, creating handmade paper canvases with Hanji pulp on standardized canvases.
After moving to California, I was deeply inspired by the desert’s forms, lines, and climate, leading me to explore bright and diverse colors on Hanji pulp. Using Indian ink and acrylic, I capture the dry yet vivid hues of the Pacific coast on linen or paper, striving for bold, distinct expressions. Through this process, I continue to create works that reflect nature’s organic beauty and the inspiration it provides.
CV
Education
• B.F.A., Seoul National University, Korea
• M.F.A., Hongik University, Korea
Awards
• Special Prize, 9th Chung-Ang Grand Art Exhibition
• Special Prize, 7th Korean Grand Art Exhibition (National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art)
Solo Exhibitions
• Five solo exhibitions in Seoul & Los Angeles
• Exhibited twice at the LA Art Show
Group Exhibitions & Auctions
• Shown in group and invitational exhibitions in Seoul, Berlin, New York & Los Angeles
Experience
• Lecturer, Kyung Hee, Sangmyung & Andong University
Affiliations
• Member, SNU Fine Arts Alumni Association & Korean Artists Association of Southern California
STATEMENT
Leaving Korea, I reflected on my diasporic identity in California, where water is drawn from the Rockies to sustain desert cities. This led me to choose the desert as a key theme in my work.
Just as fish need water to live, faith is my salvation. The fish, drawn from its Christian symbolism, represents my existential self.
My handmade Hanji (rice paper) canvas conveys organic vitality through its unique texture, absorbency, and diffusion. Tearing, layering, and scraping the paper embed my existence, faith, and life into the work.
