Serene Confrontation
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Serene Confrontation was the first painting in which I utilized Taenghwa more directly. It featured the traditional setup of the Chilseongdo (Painting of the Seven Constellations). The painting depicts the personifications of the twenty-eight constellations and the Tejaprabha Buddha. Tejaprabha sits in the center, while the rest of the constellations stand on the edges of the painting, awaiting or serving the Buddha. The widespread enshrinement of the Chilseongdo can be attributed to the role of its central Buddha, Cheonsingwang Yeorae, who served a function similar to that of the Medicine Buddha, Yaksa Yeorae. Revered especially by women seeking children or praying for sons, as well as devotees wishing for the longevity of their offspring, the Chilseongdo became a beacon of hope and devotion.
The start of the painting process was not different from that of my recent works. I stared at pictures I had taken just months before I came to the States—images of Gyeongbokgung, the Palace of Resplendent Happiness. It was one of the last pictures I ever took of the palace before returning in July 2022. The last reminiscence of a place I loved to visit as a child. Later, I added more pictures I had taken while in high school: photos of other students walking around campus, trees reaching the sky in curves, and children peering curiously into an aquarium. One moment stayed with me vividly—a child’s first time seeing a creature living in water, without any limbs. The sheer shock, untainted by fear, remained powerful in my memory.
I also incorporated a photograph I had taken that appeared as if the object in the center was exploding. This image was paired with a giant flower bulb, symbolizing the inception of all things. These fragments came together as a beacon for me to find my path forward.
Process-
