.jpg)
When I lived in South Korea, many days were covered with fine dust. Singapore, too, experiences severe air pollution during seasons when winds bring in haze from Indonesian forest fires. But it isn’t just the air that makes it hard to breathe; currently, 80% of the garbage that flows in the sea is plastic, which not only chokes marine creatures but also decomposes into microplastics by UV rays and comes back to threaten us. My artwork is a visual reminder of such environmental issues. The background is crowded, suffocating, with cold, modern buildings on the right whose straight lines and hard edges contrast with the fluidness of nature, and factories that contaminate nature by emitting harmful chemicals. Sandwiched between them, the central figure struggles to breathe in an oxygen mask. I painted the whale tail on the top right corner to resemble a tied-up plastic bag, adding pieces of real plastic bags into this and the waves for a more three-dimensional appearance. At the bottom of the painting, other sea creatures have also been combined with plastic material. My intention behind the synthesis between organic and synthetic is to show how plastic, a metonym for pollution, has invaded not just water bodies but the bodies of living creatures, including ours.
The Possible Future
However, amid this chaos of contamination, I have depicted hope. In the top right corner stands a tree and a fragment of clear ocean. The trees I collaged can absorb harmful pollutants in the air and provide clean oxygen. I emphasized my hope by painting the smoke in a gradient from dark grays to light, clean shades of white and blue. The purified air transforms into a hand, colored to look like clean ocean water, reaching out to pick up the trash bag, to touch the whale. Beneath the emitted gas, paper bag pieces made of reused paper were collaged into my work to show that by forming good habits such as recycling, we can realize this hope in the near future.
Friendship
In this artwork, I capture the powerful role of friendship in self-discovery and personal growth. The image depicts my hand reaching into a fractured mirror that reflects me taking a selfie with my friends. Friends, for me, are mirrors that reflect different perspectives of myself, so that I can view myself in a more authentic light, and embrace my genuine self without fear of judgment. The act of breaking the mirror represents the freedom and courage that true friends offer, allowing me to shatter self-imposed boundaries and reveal the layers of my true identity. Through this artwork, I celebrate friendship as a space of liberation, enabling me to face the world with confidence and honesty.
The hand, positioned in the center of the image, can also be seen as the viewer’s hand, inviting the viewer to touch my heart—to identify with what matters to me, and so enter into this space of friendship—through my artworks.
A Murder of Crows
The crow, a scavenging bird commonly seen picking up food scraps from Singapore’s hawker centers, carry complex associations in Korean tradition—seen as both messengers of divine will and symbols of death. Here, Rachel reimagines the crow, positioning it among gummy worms and candy packaging so that it acts as a powerful symbol of both nature's resilience and the ominous impact of human waste. The gummy worms, masquerading as real worms and inviting with their bright colors, mirror the insidious harm of plastic goods. Plastic use is tempting, just like sugary processed foods, but it can break down our bodies and the environment.
The painting draws attention to the reality that plastic and synthetic waste infiltrates our ecosystems, posing a threat not only to animals but ultimately to ourselves. In this piece, there is irony in the idea of “pestilent” crows cleaning up after us, choking on our filth; humans, not crows, are now the harbinger of death. The artwork is a haunting reminder to curb our plastic consumption.
.jpg)
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
In this artwork, I capture the familiar setting of my school bus, a place that has become a symbol of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in my daily life. Each morning, as I travel to school, I observe the unique interactions and connections formed among students of different backgrounds, ages, and perspectives. The bus is more than just a means of transportation—it’s a space where friendships flourish, crossing cultural and generational lines, and where I made one of my closest friends.
Through the vibrant colors and varied perspectives in the drawing, I aim to reflect the diversity of individuals and experiences that come together on this bus. Each seat represents not just a place, but a person with their own story, all traveling the same path yet bringing something unique to the journey. This piece is my homage to the DEI values I experience at school, celebrating the connections and mutual respect we share in a microcosm of our larger school community. The bus, in this artwork, is a metaphor for inclusivity, showing how even in everyday settings, DEI shapes our lives and relationships.
This artwork captures the warmth and nostalgia I feel for my childhood visits to my grandparents in the countryside. The pumpkins are reminders of the love and care Grandma showed through the things she grew and cooked for me. The teddy bears represent the cozy, playful moments I spent with my family under my grandparents’ roof. Moving to Singapore meant leaving behind these precious childhood moments. The uncolored parts of the painting symbolize how I felt: like a part of myself was left behind. But the memories remain vivid in my mind, and this piece is a tribute to that time of simple joy and comfort, when, in the vibrant life of the countryside, I felt close to both nature and family, when my grandparents cultivated not only crops but also a sense of home and belonging for me and my siblings and cousins.
Organic Living
Cherished People, Cherished Moments
In this artwork, I capture a cherished memory of sharing a sweet potato latte with my sister during a visit to Universal Studios Singapore. Holding our favorite drink in the vibrant lights and bustling energy of the amusement park, this moment represents the joy and closeness we share. The background, filled with colorful signs and neon lights, mirrors the excitement and wonder of the place, while our hands holding the cups symbolize our connection and the simple pleasure of enjoying something we love together. This piece reflects the bond I have with my sister and how small, shared experiences hold a special place in my heart. Yet the contrast of this artwork with the above one—from warm, fuzzy teddy bears to hard buildings, from organic pumpkins to plastic cups—shows how far I have fallen from my ideal lifestyle, and keeps me determined to work toward greater sustainability within the urban context.
Harmony in the Details
In Harmony in the Details, I capture a moment of solitude and creativity, depicting myself playing the ukulele in a cozy, eclectic space filled with vintage signs, framed memories, and personal artifacts. The setting reflects my appreciation for small, meaningful details and how they contribute to a sense of place and identity. Each item on the wall and shelf tells its own story, symbolizing the fragments of experiences and influences that shape who I am.
The vintage sign reading "Forget 911, Dial .357" adds a touch of humor, showcasing the quirky personality of the space, while the ukulele represents my connection to music as a source of comfort and self-expression. This piece is a tribute to finding harmony within oneself and one’s surroundings, blending creativity and nostalgia in a space that feels uniquely mine. By drawing attention to these details, I invite viewers to consider the significance of their own surroundings and how the objects they cherish contribute to their sense of self.
Alvin Ailey: Revelations
In this artwork, I reinterpret the powerful energy of Alvin Ailey’s Revelations, a dance that embodies the struggles and triumphs of the human spirit. By painting this scene on a blue background and introducing a towering wave, I amplify the visual and emotional impact of the piece. The wave symbolizes both a natural force and a metaphorical challenge—a powerful, almost overwhelming presence that the dancers confront with grace and strength.
Dressed in flowing, ethereal attire, the dancers reach upwards, as if seeking protection or transcendence. The umbrella symbolizes shelter and resilience in the face of life’s turbulent forces. In this painting, I try to capture a stillness in movement, which dance, a continuously moving art form, does not quite capture. This serene stillness, required to withstand the storms of life, comes from the dancers’ strength in unity. Their postures suggest an unwavering faith and a collective resolve to rise above.
The blue background, reminiscent of water, heightens the spirituality of the piece, as water is often symbolic of cleansing and rebirth, and evokes both serenity and intensity. The dancers are also colored blue, so that they seem almost to be waves themselves, even as they shield themselves against the wave with the umbrella. Through this choice I highlight both humans’ connection to and separation from nature.
In this piece, I convey the resilience, faith, and interconnectedness at the heart of Ailey’s choreography, capturing the essence of humanity’s ability to endure and transform, together, amidst adversity, as part of the grand ocean of nature.