PURPOSE:
This project is a personal journey attempting to reconnect and embrace the lifelong hardships I had as an immigrant in Australia.
Through my work, I try to share my childhood memories with the audience and deliver my emotions and the struggles I had to go through while growing up.
BRIEF:
The aim of this project was for me to personally try and reinterpret the multi-cultural traits in myself by focusing on the aspect of belongingness.
Looking deep into my life as an immigrant, I found that I always lacked the sense of belongingness everywhere I go. I introduce myself as a Korean in Australia but ironically, when I meet up with my relatives in Korea, I would introduce myself as the other.
"Hi - Oh, I'm Korean"
"안녕하세요 (means "hello" in Korean), I came from Australia. I'm visiting over the school holidays!"
"안녕하세요 (means "hello" in Korean), I came from Australia. I'm visiting over the school holidays!"
That led me to question myself with:
Who really am I? Where do I belong?
Hence, through this project I wanted to explore the journey into finding my identity... And learn how to perceive both of the cultures I experienced as a Korean-Australian.
Via a long, considerate experimentation and reflection into my personal history - I was able to come up with the two final illustrations seen above. The outcome of the artwork consists of a reinterpretation of the Korean traditional art style. I have merged the classic techniques with my modernised illustration style and recreated a series of my self-portraits and the familiar sites of Queensland - QUT and Surfers Paradise, which are my comfort zones in Australia.
Studying the two different cultural aspects I lived through my life in a more insightful perspective have thankfully provided me with the opportunity to learn how to truly appreciate both of the lifestyle I have. Now I have learnt how valuable my current life is living in Australia, and I also have reconnected stronger with my roots in my home country in Korea.
Well - Confusions cleared. Case closed.
After a long in-depth journey into the experimentation, Now I understand that I shouldn’t be thinking that I don’t really belong to any groups, but accept my multi-cultural traits and be proud of belonging in both.
Both are me -
It’s all part of me!
TARGET AUDIENCE:
I hope whoever comes across my project can get a valuable insight into the struggles I had as a bi-cultural individual and emphasise with my journey into overcoming the struggles.
My target audience would either be -
People who grew up under the same cultural environment as me. They would be able to emphasise with the message I am trying to deliver.
And...
The people who do not relate, also will be given the opportunity to take an insight into the immigrant’s perspective and understand the struggles of a bi-cultural lifestyle.
