"Introspectus" was my first major body of work, created in 2019 during a pivotal time in my personal and artistic journey as I faced my decade-long battle with depression and anxiety. Painted with hope, the series explores the complex nature of the mind and celebrates the brain’s capacity to heal through neuroplasticity.

 

Inspired by my love for ink drawings and Korean ink wash paintings, I experimented with meok (Indian ink) on canvas, developing my signature style of mark-making—scraping back layers to reveal the underlying textures and canvas fibers. This process symbolizes rebuilding by unlearning ingrained habits and thoughts shaped by trauma.

 

Though painful and exhausting, this journey of unlearning and relearning is essential for healing. I wanted these paintings to reflect that our wounds and scars are part of our story—as symbols of resilience rather than limitations. "Introspectus" was created with the hope that I would look back and see progress from my struggles. I am deeply grateful to God and to those who have shown me grace and support. Through my art, I strive to offer the same hope and encouragement to anyone on their mental health journey.