narratives. Her artistic journey began at the Rhode Island School of Design, where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture in 2011. She further honed her craft at Seoul National University, obtaining her Master of Fine Arts in 2015. Whee's talent has been recognized through various awards and exhibitions, including “Wild-Women Abstractionists on Nature”, Metropolitan Museum of Manila, in Manila. Currently residing between Manila and Seoul, she continues to create and exhibit works that challenge and inspire.

My generation was captivated and targeted by materialism. I felt compelled to conquer something, and like many modern individuals driven by material desires, I found myself swept up in that pursuit. However, even as I grappled with the allure of materialistic life-tempting as it may be-I sought to filter and express those desires through my work.

Through the body, ensnared in the swamp of longing, and the skin and silhouette intertwined with nature, I projected images of desire. Yet, rather than seeking fulfilment from external sources, I turned inward, pulling out and expelling my inner consciousness. This process gave rise to the audacious desire to create something new, even in the barren desert.

As I persistently depicted nature, I gradually shifted my gaze from what is visible to the essence beyond it. Rendering fixed forms became restrictive; I aimed to reveal a boundless energy that is not confined by any conceptual framework. By transcending the boundaries of form, I sought to dissolve the distinctions between the visible and the invisible, ultimately expressing the infinite and intense nature of the unseen. My attempt to convey energy through nature is akin to shedding one’s outer form or shell and embarking on a journey toward an intimate essence.

I strive to move beyond form and interpretation, reaching closer to the core of painting itself. Like tendrils that begin and end in places unknown, my work is both gentle and destructive, possessing a tenacious vitality. Through paintings that pulse with life-marked by rough strokes and vibrant colors-I aim to merge with the infinite. The visible now yearns for the invisible truth of painting, seeking something immaterial.

Whee 2024