Kimchi Jar
Amy K.
Oil paint
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My identity as a Korean American has always been a central element in my life. Raised by my American father and Korean mother, their disparate beliefs rooted in their upbringings in distinct cultures has often led to arguments over a number of issues. Navigating this cultural schism has brought me a lot of confusion and uncertainty. While my home life in more significantly affected by my Korean according the the balance of personalities of my parents, my appearance, light hair and green eyes, belies my culture to others, especially living in America. Through this clash of culture, the unity of my Korean and American cultures through food affirms my racial identity and assuages my cultural dysphoria. I am fortunate enough to have a mother who constantly provides homemade Korean food, and a father who prepares generally American food. The intersection of food bridges the cultural gap in my home life, and represents that for which I am eternally grateful. The exchange of dissonance and harmony in my heritage is expressed in my artwork. In my painting, the arms of my father, wearing his wedding ring, help my mother in opening a jar of kimchi, a staple of Korean food. This representation represents the contrasting elements of my culture, while simultaneously bringing them together in harmony.
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The Starry Musical said of artists in the past, “Remind me what it's like to be/A person stuck in time/That's searching for identity.” Creativity is making what you want with what you have. It’s expressing or creating one’s identity, even through limitations.
