ART
PREVIOUS ARTWORKS
MAJESTIC HARMONY, 2022
Hanok, [한옥] is a Korean traditional architecture with its own unique housing culture. It is beautifully constructed with a wooden framework and tiled roof. One of the reasons why hanok is beautiful is that numerous small pieces gather together to create harmony in one. The patterns and details of the small pieces of woods and tiles express the delicate beauty of this building. The drawing captures this harmony and its beauty by having detailed lines and intricate shadings. Not only different materials, but also nature and architecture blend into each other seamlessly.
OBOE, 2022
Everyone has their unique way of relieving stress from their lives. These activities, often classified as hobbies, represent what they are passionate about and allow people to indulge in a different world they are mainly attached to.
This artwork showcases a combination of my passions: art and music. While reflecting on my love for classical music as an oboist, the detailed expression of the instrument using my artistic talent shows how my two worlds of passion collide.
NONENTITY, 2023
A mammoth is an extinct species and now is no longer in existence. In contrast, over the past few years, modern technology has rapidly revolutionized the world and is switching the world we are living in. Would it be possible for us, living in the twenty-first century surrounded by advanced technology, to discern an extinct species with a revolutionized world? It is a nonentity of a scene that we cannot sight.
THE STREETS OF HONOLULU, 2023
In Honolulu's vivid streets, architecture takes center stage as a stunning show of cultural blending and modern ingenuity. The street unfolds like an architectural wonderland, displaying a beautiful blend of styles and influences. Honolulu's architecture conveys a story of past, present, and future, from renowned mid-century modern structures that pay homage to Hawaii's rich design history to the sleek glass facades of contemporary buildings that represent metropolitan vitality. Traditional Hawaiian themes blend elegantly with colonial and Asian inspirations to create a one-of-a-kind and engaging visual narrative. Architectural characteristics serve not just as beautiful accents, but also as a reflection of the island's rich cultural legacy.
As you walk through the streets, you observe the city's ever-changing skyline, which reflects the city's progressive spirit. Modern buildings’ sleek lines and reflective surfaces complement the natural beauty around them. While global influences undoubtedly impact Honolulu architecture, it remains profoundly anchored in the local setting. With open-air designs that encourage invigorating breezes and optimize natural light, the structures pay homage to the city's tropical atmosphere. Covered pathways and covered verandas offer relief from the sun while paying homage to traditional Hawaiian lanais and fostering a sense of community.
The streets of Honolulu are opened in this colorful tapestry of architectural styles, highlighting the confluence of cultures and the resiliency of island society. Each step immerses you in a visual symphony where tradition meets innovation, reminding you that Honolulu's beauty extends far beyond its coastlines.
DUALITY, 2023
People have diverse perceptions and methodologies in getting to know a person. Some learn from first impressions, appearances, habits, hobbies, and many more. These factors, visible to other’s eyes, are part of one’s characteristics.
Despite these external factors that help others to know who you are, there are some internal factors that create our own characters. These internal factors highlight the duality of an individual. How I perceive myself and how others do are different due to these dualities that we all have.
Friends believe I am extroverted from the diverse activities I participate in on campus and the way I treat others. In reality, I prefer spending time for myself. I own a duality in my personality where the way my friends think of me differs from the real me.
This artwork, a self-portrait, reflects the duality I own in my personality. Darker shades represent the individualism/introverted side of myself, which contrasts with the facial features such as soft lines of the face, eyes, and nose. The combination of these indicates that inside the external factors, there are internal parts of me that differ from what people know me for. The gap, specifically the differences between the external and internal factors of myself, defines duality.
REMINISCE: A SUNNY DAY AT WAIKIKI, 2023
Many local residents of Hawaii, including my friends and teachers in high school rarely enjoy visiting Waikiki due to multiple reasons. The main reason for the lack of locals in the area would be the dominance of tourists. In contrast to other areas such as the North Shore, Waikiki is the most well-known area and is always full of tourists taking photos, swimming at Waikiki Beach, and buying souvenirs.
Waikiki is not that type of place to me. Waikiki contains a set of unforgettable memories that I share with my parents, my brother, and my sister. Prior to myself attending high school in Hawaii, Waikiki was a place that meant multiple things. As a person who slowly transformed from being a tourist to a resident, I understand both perspectives and the socioeconomic relationship that ties the bond between the two groups. Regardless, Waikiki is a place I cherish and is a place that contains a lot of my childhood memories of O’ahu, Hawaii.
This artwork resembles a sunny day at a hotel near the streets of Waikiki. It indicates the love and attachment I have for Waikiki, and the nostalgia and reminiscence this area carries for myself and my ohana (family).
UNVEILED, 2022
We all have our own emotional landscapes. This composition of the block-printed art piece expresses human emotion through a zoomed in portrayal of the face. The depths of the emotions are expressed with lines and textures, carved into the printing block. The contrast of colors also enhances the dynamism of the expressions. The engagement with this artwork encourages people to reflect upon their own emotional landscapes.
THALASSOPHOBIA: FEAR OF DEEP WATER, 2022
Phobias are usually caused due to personal experiences or traumas. Many people have them because phobias are complex and can be influenced by a lot of different cognitive factors. I as a child, had Thalassophobia, an intense fear of the deep ocean. Specifically, I was fear of the vast emptiness of the dark sea, and all the creatures under it that we can’t see.
When I visited Hawaii for a vacation a few years ago, I participated in a snorkeling activity. My decision of going snorkeling in a deep ocean was a hard challenge because we had to go to the middle of the ocean to see Manta rays, one of the biggest creatures in the ocean of Hawaii.
Stepping into the water and watching all the underwater creatures helped me to overcome the fear I had. For the first time, I learned what is there in the vast space I always feared of. And that was when I faced my insecurities and overcome my fear. This art reflects how I strengthen the person I am and how I realized that I am bigger than what was making me anxious.
