This semester I have based my work on the idea of language and words and how they represent meaning. As I am currently studying Korean many of my pieces have been inspired by Korean words, phrases, or ideas. Some of my pieces hold more specific meaning or purpose. For example, I have two pieces based on spoon class theory, which comment on socioeconomic inequality. Another example of this is my series of cartoons of a crowtit (a small song bird) and a stork, which are based on the Korean idiom: “뱁새가 황새를 따라가면 다리가 찢어진다” which roughly translates as “if a crowtit tries to walk like a stork it will break its legs.” One meaning of this idiom is “people ruin themselves by trying to ape their betters,” another more potent interpretation would be “one should stay in their class”. Through using this idiom in my work I hope to subvert these meanings and these ideas.

Others of my pieces have less specific or intentional meaning, for example the Koi fish drawings or my piece of hands holding hearts. These were pieces I created inspired by an image getting stuck in my head and trying to reproduce such an image in real life.

Lastly, I have been exploring coding as a way to create. Most recently, for MLK day, I made an app that displays a quote and photo when one presses a button. As a more ongoing project I am working on creating a choose your own adventure game for Korean learners. The game is entirely in Korean and takes the player on an “adventure” through Seoul. The goal of the game is to introduce Korean Learners to new vocab and grammar structures as well as provide a fun way to practice dialogues related to ordering food, checking into a hotel, and more. 

- Maya