HANBOK 30
This selection of work comes from a set of 30 paintings created during the month of January 2019 for the annual Var Gallery juried exhibition, 30x30x30 2019. An intensive exploration and study—30 artists complete 30 works of art in 30 days. All works are 6”x 6”
The Korean Hanbok and associated hairstyles carry forward a rich history of tradition and represent one of the most visible and tactile aspects of Korean culture. This series is an exploration of diasporic identity through the development of the artist’s own Hanbok iterations.
The thirty works feature an inventive take on traditional dress, with hairstyles often physically impossible. They examine the ways in which we adopt and adapt traditions in search of personal identity and belonging; painted to mimic collage, the backgrounds represent rich patterns and textiles. The decorative imagery and symbolism are taken from the natural world. The snakes weave in and out representing change, cycles and rebirth. The fish in each piece grow in number symbolic of fluidity, acceptance and mutability. We live in a time where ceremonies and rituals are evolving. A reflection on the new rites taking their place and the connections they have with the past, each work a playful reminder to cherish the minute, the unconventional, and the ordinary.
