月雲

While on Jeju-do (제주도, 濟州島) I spent a lot of time with the ocean, sitting beside Bulteok (불턱), or fire pit structures made of volcanic stone. I thought about the Haenyeo (해녀), the female deep sea free divers indigenous to Jeju-do. The island was once the independent Kingdom of Tamna (탐라, 耽羅), and as reflected by the historical and current importance of the Haenyeo, a semi matrifocal society.

For decades now the number of Haenyeo have consistently been on the decline. Industrial, economic, and environmental changes have all played a major role in the decline of the Haenyeo way of life. However, their contribution to the Korean independence movement, environmental conservation efforts, and continued stewardship of Jeju-do prove they will forever be a dominant force to behold.

Out of gratitude and admiration for how all life begins with our beautiful and awe inspiringly strong mothers, I painted the Bulteok where the Haenyeo gather; there, they prepare for their dives, recuperate after returning to shore, and instruct the next generation. As more Bulteok are left unused, they still remain an iconic fixture of Jeju-do.

This is a hat shaped rock formation, found off the south coast of Goeje-do (거제도, 巨濟島), known as Sinseondae Gatbawi (신선대 갓바위). Historically, this was an important destination for Taoist hermits to pray. Additionally, hopeful scholars would make a pilgrimage to this rock, praying to pass the Gwageo (과거, 科擧) or civil examination. This was because the rock formation resembles a Heungnip Gat (흑립, 黑笠), a hat that was restricted to those who passed the Gwageo.

As a contemporary ink painter and calligrapher, I am reminded that my path is ultimately a progression from my predecessors. Whether I attribute myself more closely to the few professional painters of the royal courts, to the scholarly literati tradition, or to the nameless folk painters, ultimately, I, too, am praying to succeed in my professional endeavours. So this fan is my own version of prayer to this once sacred space.

Depicted here is the Stone Seated Buddha in Samneunggye (삼릉계, 三稜溪). I saw this sculpture while climbing Namsan (남산, 南山), famous for its ancient Buddhist carvings which are dated to the Unified Silla Dynasty (668 to 935 CE).

This sculpture, in particular, is interesting because unlike many of its counterparts, it was excavated and moved to its current location on the mountain. One record states that when the sculpture was first found, it was lying under a grove of pine trees.

The idea that even sculptures carved into a mountain will one day crumble really spoke to me. Because just like a granite statue of the Buddha resting amongst the pine trees, we too will all be returned to nature.

This fan was the last addition to the body of work I presented for this exhibition.