Self Defined
My bra sculptures act as a reminder of the cultural expectations surrounding women's bodies. As I grew up and was educated in Korea for over 30 years, I know firsthand that wearing bras is considered mandatory etiquette for women. Women wear a bra to hide nipples and hold breasts tightly in order to conform to these expectations. I use custom digitally printed fabric, featuring photographic representations of my personal history, to add another layer of complexity to the pieces. Through my artwork, I challenge viewers to consider the ways in which cultural norms and personal history intersect and shape our understanding of ourselves and others. In a country where not wearing a bra is considered scandalous and uneducated, my bra sculptures offer a reflection on the power of social norms and the ways in which we define ourselves in relation to them.
