Confrontation and Contemplation
The Gamrodo is a Buddhist painting depicting a ritual performed to deliver souls trapped in the realm of hungry ghosts. Widely used during the Joseon Dynasty in ceremonies like Ulanbongjae, Suryukjae, and Cheondojae, this artwork served as a prayer for the deceased, wishing for their passage to paradise. It captures both the act of compassion and the hope for transcendence, embodying a visual plea for liberation and peace.
I started painting with three collages, emulating how Gamrodo is divided into three scenes: heaven, earth, and hell. In this painting, I recreated another version of Gamrodo. The background of heaven is depicted with Sansudo, and I applied gold leaf to enhance its heavenly atmosphere. For the earth, I continued with Sansudo but added the 28 stars scholars on its sides. The 28 constellations are part of the ancient Chinese constellation system widely used in Asia. Later in Korea, Buddhism fused with various belief systems like Shamanism and Taoism in an effort to stay relevant to the people. In Korean Tanghwas, the 28 constellations were used to seek guidance for life, healthier living, and enlightenment. Lastly, the third picture shows hell, where everything is crumbled. All that remains are residues of burnt and destroyed things. Yet, they still hold memories and wishes for good things, swirling and crawling as they strive to escape their place.
Process-
