My family is comprised of six boys and two girls, of which I am the
youngest. My father had a passion for drawing. Unfortunately, he was never
encouraged to pursue his art. Ultimately, he took up a career as an
elementary school teacher. In Korea, schoolteachers follow yearly contracts
that can reassign the teachers to different schools in different regions. As
a result, our family was always on the move. I grew up amongst a family of
older brothers and sister of various age gaps. And I was constantly exposed
to new environments. From the differing thoughts of older siblings to the
continuous changes in living environment, my childhood had no constant
factors. I quickly became accustomed to all the dynamics and variations of
life.
Even though I was brought up with traditional customs, my family pushed me
to new educational concepts. My father taught me how to draw and nurtured my
artistic aspirations. It is with their encouragement and support that I am
able to come to the United States to pursue my education.
My paintings are both a representation of the outside world and a reflection
of my inside world. By considering my emotional reaction and by imagining
stories about my subjects, I am able to go to beyond superficial
representation to convey character.
Old masters and many contemporary artists have consistently influenced my
art. My passion for understanding art is my mission in life. My painting is
a way for me to appreciate life.
