spirit illness series
The Spirit Illness series explores my long-suffering of a spiritual and metaphysical experience. For most of my life, I endured a series of unexplained symptoms such as undiagnosable depression, extreme fatigue, alcoholism, dreaming and seeing of spirits, and precognitions. Finally, I was diagnosed with a culturally-specific spirit illness, known in Korea as ‘Sinbyoeng’ (신병). The Spirit Illness series began in 2019, and fortunately, the symptoms were diagnosed and treated successfully through a shamanic ritual in July 2020.
The series mostly includes self-portraits with snakes and animal symbolism. It is a growing body of work, as there are many more stories yet to be told.
The series mostly includes self-portraits with snakes and animal symbolism. It is a growing body of work, as there are many more stories yet to be told.
spirit illness: the hunt‘The Hunt’ is a quirky interpretation about avoiding the elephant in the room. It was inspired by an experience one afternoon when a giant Golden Eagle landed on my apartment balcony in the middle of the city where I reside. A very unusual place to see such a bird, but before flying away, it turned and locked eyes with me for a few moments. When a Golden Eagle appears in front of you it also symbolises an end and a new beginning, and so that special moment showed me a positive change was coming.
The painting itself illustrates that even though Golden Eagles are symbols of strength, perseverance, hard work, and success, they won’t be seen that way if they choose to remain blinded and neglect reality. |
spirit illness: the hunt (2020) | 120cm x 90cm | acrylic, hand dyed cotton thread on linen
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spirit illness: slumpSlump is when movement is stagnant and everything feels impossible. I laid for 6 months as if a ball and chain was clasped around my neck. I couldn’t get up. All senses and my sense of self were being overridden. Feeling hollow and disconnected with my spirit, I lose trust in myself as the grief from the dark red aloe flower pierces through my body. Meanwhile, a white snake coils like innards, symbolising the ancestor spirits that have made a home inside me.
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spirit illness: slump (2020) | 120cm x 90cm | acrylic, hand dyed cotton threads on raw canvas
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spirit illness: beer‘Spirit Illness: Beer’ was inspired by the feeling of being consumed by something beyond your control. Too much for too long and over many unwanted drunken nights, it felt like I had become the beer itself. This loss of control, chaos, and imbalance was caused by a ‘spirit illness’ that I had experienced for many years. However, the snake that once took grip on me is slithering away, showing that it won’t keep hold of me forever. Despite looking past at what’s happening with concealed eyes, the withering of the aloe flower provides a feeling that an end to this pain is coming.
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spirit illness: beer (2020) | 120cm x 90cm | acrylic, hand dyed cotton threads on raw canvas
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