2020 DIARY

I completed a 10 meter piece during the entire year of 2020 from January to November. I measured the paper length, drew the lines to make a grid, and painted the droplet like circles inside; each circle was confined within a 0.5 inch by 0.5 inch square. Similarly, I created my own paint with pigment powder from seashells in Korea - where I was born. Titled, “diary of 2020”, this piece documented my daily mood and series of events that took place during the pandemic. Depending on my daily mood, I mixed and determined the colors. The gradual transition of colors evoke the flow of my emotions.

Because the pandemic was consumed with fear and uncertainty, I needed a purpose. The world was so chaotic and turbulent, with loved ones passing away and countries shutting down; thus, I wanted to create a space where I was in control of myself and my life. By working on the largest piece in my artist career, I provided my mind with peace, happiness and purpose. The process of drawing hundreds of lines, thousands of dots, mixing colors, sitting for hours at a time is extremely repetitive and time consuming, requiring patience and focus. However, it is also beyond humbling and meditative because I would have to take a deep breath before dropping that first dot, trying to hold my hands still while trying to not make a mistake. As a result, I wish to exhibit this large piece to not only express my own perspective on harmony, but to share this it with others in a world filled with constant conflict and uncertainty.