Nine Innings of Life
color pencil on kent;
39.4*54.5cm
(15.5*21.4 inch)
I wanted to explore my deep connection to baseball as a fan and player. This painting, rendered in colored pencil on Kent paper, features me in the Doosan Bears uniform, my favorite Korean baseball team. The filmstrip winding through the scene symbolizes the stages of my life, like different innings in a baseball game. Each frame of the filmstrip captures a moment where I learned to acquire different techniques in baseball. This represents my personal journey both in baseball and life in general, dealing with ups and downs while maintaining calm. My hand holding the baseball conveys control and readiness to face the next challenge in life. The wristband labeled “Homerun” represents my optimism and aspiration for my future growth. Life, like baseball, is not a single moment but a collection of moments and I wanted to highlight my positive attitude through this work.
Baseball in Motion
photoshop program
I wanted to explore the dynamic movement and energy of baseball through a Pop Art-inspired approach. By manipulating photos and movements, I tried to capture the essence of each action, conveying the feeling of motion within a static image. The repeated figures, varying in size and color, create a rhythm that echoes the repetitive yet varied nature of a baseball game. The use of graphics was new to me, but I liked playing with the dotted patterns and abstract elements, which added more playfulness, like the Pop Art aesthetic. I also pushed one step further by pushing the boundary between realism and abstraction. The layering of shapes and forms echoes could convey the intensity and fast-paced nature of a baseball game, with sequential consequences. This piece also represents a personal exploration of new artistic tools, since learning Adobe Photoshop would enhance my future creative exploration.
My Currencia: a Baseball Stadium
modeled players, acrylic, sand, woodlock on canvas
45.5*37.9*6 cm
17.9*14.9 *2.3inch
This miniature baseball stadium is a symbolic representation of my personal sanctuary—also known as “currencia.” This Spanish term refers to a safe, secure place for the bull during bullfighting before his final confrontation. By borrowing this cultural concept, I wanted to explore my place of safety and comfort—a basketball field. The details of the stadium reflect my comfort and familiarity with the place. The miniature people figures frozen in a moment of play represent the game’s timelessness. I added the sculpted texture, green turf, and dirt paths to remind me of the physicality of the space and the strength it gives me to face the game. In our fast-paced world, I wanted to create an artwork that reminds me of the physical space that brings me comfort and peace, and I also wanted to share that with others.
Badminton to the Sky
acrylic on canvas, album frame
34*43cm
13.3*16.9inch
I wanted to blend the themes of tranquility and the fleeting nature of moments of peace. Drawing inspiration from Korean artist Kim Ri-won's recurring use of clouds as symbols of natural healing, I focused on the movement of the shuttlecock, suspended mid-air after being launched from a badminton racket. This can be a metaphor for those brief, transcendent moments in life where one feels weightless and free, much like the shuttlecock in its flight. I wanted to reinforce the idea of calm and lightness through the serene blue sky and soft clouds. I then juxtaposed this soothing backdrop with the dynamic movement of the shuttlecock and the badminton player. I wanted to communicate the hard work and effort required to reach those peaceful moments, even if those rewards may only last a moment.
Badminton in Seconds
Vita video editing tool
In this video, I expressed the appearance of playing badminton in a more lively and dynamic way. I used the Vita program to compile and edit different photos of me playing badminton. The process began by selecting a series of video clips and images that showcased various stages of movement during a badminton match. I carefully ordered these clips, using motion to create a smooth flow of actions that enhanced the dynamism of the game. From there, I applied a range of effects—reversal, repetition, rotation, and negative color—to further emphasize the vibrancy and intensity of each moment. These effects added visual interest and broke the traditional linearity of movement, allowing me to explore different perspectives and create a sense of rhythm in the piece. This project pushed me to rethink how everyday movements can be captured and experienced through creative experimentation, turning routine action into an expression of art.
Racing Track
Acrylic on hardboard, steel, plastic, wire
30*50cm
11.8* 19.6 inch
I often visited racing spots with my father. He served as an international referee, and I naturally took life in these spaces. I wanted to express my own way, feeling great energy from the intense light and engine sounds of cars speeding at the speed of light. In this work, I wanted to depict cars passing by quickly in various colors, such as red, yellow, gray, and white, the road that cars pass by looks like a single line. This line symbolizes the road the car has driven on, and it contains thoughts and wandering at the starting point. But once it starts, everyone runs toward the finish line without hesitation, and at that moment, the time for agony disappears.
Helmet
pencil on kent
39.4*54.5cm
(15.5*21.4 inch)
This is a pencil drawing of my racing helmet with the Samsung racing team logo. This helmet holds deep personal significance for me since I’ve always dreamed of becoming a professional racer. I was first given this helmet when I was ten. I was obviously too young to seriously consider becoming a racer at the time, but it nonetheless represented a tangible future dream and aspiration, something I could look forward to. The helmet also represents safety, however, since it is a protective layer that would shield me from life’s unforeseen challenges and accidents. This sense of protection is not just physical but metaphorical because my father’s care has worked as a strong emotional defense against real-world challenges and difficulties. In terms of the technique, I wanted to pay close attention to shading and detail in the drawing to enhance the texture. This helmet to me, is a symbol of my father's love and my thirst for adventure with the freedom and safety to explore the world.
Alternative Keyboard
Keyboard, stickers
64.5*19*15cm
25.3*7.4*5.9 inch
This keyboard reflects a playful and nostalgic connection to my childhood imagination. Each key is attached to a painted paper with whimsical, fictional characters. I remember fantasizing about an alternate universe where I was surrounded by different characters from cartoons and video games. I wanted to recall that dream world where imaginary figures took center stage over my present struggles. This historical artifact of a sort also works as a link that connects my present self to my younger self since pressing each button can take me to that alternate world. Ultimately, this piece is both a reflection and celebration of my childhood full of imagination and wonder. By using this unusual medium, I wanted to convey a message of respect and ownership for one's own childhood, no matter how silly or unrealistic that world may appear by modern standards.
Beatles and I
Oil Painting;
18' * 24'
(45.7 * 60.9 cm)
The violin is a classical instrument, and I receive much healing through that instrument. While I obviously have a deep appreciation for classical compositions, I also enjoy modern musicians like the Beatles. I believe that music is a means to encompass eras and generations. I painted my face in transparent watercolor to represent a more traditional and controlled method. For the background and the piano, I colored them in the gray between the white and black spectrum, while other parts are quite colorful, like a poster. I freely used different moods of color as the technique that represents more modern tradition. The coexistence of these contrasting styles—traditional watercolor and modern, vivid poster art—was my attempt to bring the past and present together to show that they are not in conflict but are parts of a continuum. For me, this work encapsulates this ongoing transformation, where the past informs the present, shaping an ever-changing future.