When Tigers use to smoke (호랑이 담배 피우던 시절)

In the Korean tradition, instead of "Once upon a time" we start many of our folktales with "When Tigers use to smoke". It calls back to a time when tigers, a powerful symbol in Korean culture, roamed the lands and were a vibrant player in our culture traditions and legends. However during the Japanese occupations, these beautiful creatures were hunted to extinction.

This piece stands as a love letter to my cultural background and a reminder that we must protect and conserve beautiful creatures such as the Tiger, lest they become nothing more than legend.

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A self taught Korean Australian artist whose work explores themes of environmentalism, conservation and my complicated relationship with my culture and background as a mixed race woman.

My pieces often focus on the plight of endangered species as I attempt to highlight issues of their exploitation, whilst tying them to Korean mythology and folklore.