Piece Description
Medium: Ink on paper
Dimensions: 15 ft by 13.5 ft
“Manse” is named after a traditional childhood Korean punishment. As a child, whenever I disobeyed my family or caused a ruckus, I would have to hold my hands above my head, fight fatigue, and be forced to reflect on my behavior by negative association. The meaning is that love is at times best expressed through hardship, and only through such experiences can we grow the most. Through punishment, my parents wanted me to learn from my mistakes and become better, something I could not see at the time, but came to realize as I matured. The central image of this piece is a person in the manse position that is outlined by stamps which contain positive images and words of encouragement. I used stamps because in my childhood, stamps were a sign of positive reinforcement. I chose primary colors to convey the spirit of youth, a time of mistakes and learning. I used “Manse” to explore my heritage and culture, and accept that my difference is one that I should own and not shy away from.
