Reflection

I came up with the idea for my piece because last summer, when I visited the tomb I mention in my poem, I was extremely touched with the idea that such a feared animal that shows up in so many folktales from hundreds of years ago, a creature my own ancestors hated, could become extinct and no longer even present in the region where it is so important to the culture. I wanted to capture what it feels like to have a culture I have simultaneously been a part of since I was born, while also feeling quite distant from it. Through the Contest theme, I've learned and begun to appreciate how much my culture and heritage has shaped me to be the person I am. I often have regrets about not being fluent in Korean, and sometimes I resent the differing cultural values between Korea and the United States. However, my culture ties me to my parents, grandparents, and the people I love, so I've embraced it as a part of me. I wanted to show my appreciation to my parental figures, especially my grandfather, for giving me this rich cultural heritage and sharing stories about their lives. I wanted to capture the melancholy and ache that comes from losing something which you feel was once yours, like how the tiger is now lost from the lands of Korea. My message to viewers of my artwork is that we should appreciate the things in nature which we may currently view as a threat. I try to convince the viewer that we should leave nature be and preserve it so future generations will also be able to appreciate the wonder of nature. I also want to tell the reader to appreciate the stories of their grandparents and the culture they inherit.