Senior Exhibition | Proverbs

This project is inspired by the Book of Proverbs, a text that has guided me through many seasons of my life. For this exhibition, I read all 31 chapters and created one drawing in response to a verse, image, or feeling that stayed with me. Rather than illustrating literal biblical scenes or human expressions, I translated these reflections into Korean objects, symbols, and everyday imagery.

This approach was influenced by Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s Netherlandish Proverbs, in which cultural objects and scenes become a visual language for larger ideas. In my work, I reinterpret this concept through my background and experiences. By using familiar materials and imagery from Korean culture, I wanted to show how Scripture can continue to speak across different contexts and how freedom of expression allows faith to become personal and meaningful.

Each chapter is paired with one image and a short handwritten reflection. Although a clean, perfectly organized presentation may be easier to read, I intentionally avoided rulers and straight lines. The uneven arrangement and small handwriting reflect imperfect human nature. We read Proverbs and seek wisdom, but we cannot live it perfectly. These irregular marks represent the honest process of trying, failing, reflecting, and continuing to grow.

Scale and interaction also became an important part of the exhibition. I wanted viewers to move closer to the work, lean in, and spend time reading the handwritten text and observing the subtle details in each drawing. Rather than immediately revealing meaning, the work invites slower viewing and personal interpretation.

The entire series was created with pen. The pen was the medium that first introduced me to drawing and became the starting point of my journey as an artist. Because of that, I chose to return to pen for my final semester and senior exhibition. Through this project, I wanted to express that wisdom is not something we fully achieve, but something we continue to seek through honesty, humility, and everyday practice.