Forgiveness

Mixed Media/Fiber — acrylic paint, handmade paper, gold leaf
20 x 16 inches
2018

This art was created for A Place of her Own, an exhibition curated by Cynthia Tom and Maggie Yee, in response to the question, “If you had a place of your own, what would it be?”

Forgiveness expresses my aspiration for a place where wounds from disrupted relationships are remembered, felt and accepted. Through the process of forgiveness, I can restore fractured relationships or release them. Either way, the process leads to freedom from being stuck in the past and allows me to live in the present. The woman in the painting wears hanbok (traditional Korean clothing), reminding me that I must first practice forgiving myself in order to be able to forgive others. I intentionally used the Japanese and Korean papers to collage the broken pot to illustrate the history of the fractured relationship between the two countries.

The gold leaf lines in the pot are inspired by the Japanese art of kintsugi or “golden joinery” which is the craft of mending broken pieces of ceramics with lacquer mixed with gold, silver or platinum. The kintsugi method conveys a concept of restoration and recognition of the history and beauty in broken things. Guided by a connection to a loving divine power (symbolized by the starry night sky), I am empowered to forgive myself. I can expand the forgiveness to others so I can heal broken relationships. May all who have been wounded by a violation of our dignity be restored to feel happy, joyous, and free by practicing forgiveness.

I dedicate this painting to all the Comfort Women who suffered from the most intimate violation of dignity. May all involved experience forgiveness.