Dimension: 390x390 (mm) Height: 43 (cm)
Materials: Acrylic paint, cardboard paper, photos, mirror, resin, artificial ivy, glue gun, spray bond
Description: Through this artwork, I wanted to express the conflicts between my two identities: the pure side of me when I was young and the side being content with reality. On the outside of the well, I painted and stitched pictures that expressed our reality, and used dull colors and ivy to portray any uncomfortable or nasty feelings. Inside the well, I placed the mirror and drew a natural sky that symbolizes my young and pure identity. I also added some transparent resin to express the texture of the water. By looking at the pure version of me and the beautiful nature (the sky) reflected in the water inside the well, I wanted the audience to reminisce about the time when they were pure and young.
I got this inspiration from the poem ‘Self-portrait’ by Dongju Yoon who was a fighter for independence for Korea during the Japanese colonial period. I first learned about this poem when I was in middle school and was very impressed by it. He expressed the emotions and the conflicts he undergoes between his two identities: the moment when he was young and pure and another when he is accepting of the harsh reality he is living in. He felt embarrassed by himself when looking at his reflected face on the water inside the well. I thought his emotions and internal conflicts that he underwent during the colonial period was similar to what I feel about myself these days.
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