Artist Statement

Gates of Nature
Have you ever heard the sound of water running underneath the snow? Have you ever taken the time to notice a flower in bloom?
Recently I noticed how snow melts...Deeply frozen ice melting by the warmth of the earth, sunshine, and soft winds with hard packed frozen snow floating on the melted water over the earth.
It seems to start from the ground, not from the top where it is touched by the air and sunshine...The water always seems to flow underneath the snow.
We have at times difficulties and even anger with people in our lives...When this happens to me I try like the earth to accept them, even apologize and forgive them, while keeping a positive mind. As the sunshine and winds help to melt hard packed snow and ice I try in this way to melt the ice in difficult relationships.
The long time between the last flowers of fall and while waiting for the flowers of spring reminds me of a poem... 

There is no flower that would bloom without being shaken. 
All the pretty flowers in the world all bloom while being shaken. 

While being shaken, it straightened its stem. 

There is no love that would leave without being shaken. 
Where is there a flower that would bloom without being whipped? 

All the shining flowers in the world all bloom while being whipped. 
While being whipped by the wind and rain, the flower petals bloomed warmly. 

There is no life that goes by without being whipped.
poem by Doe Jong-Hwan

When I am absorbed in nature I feel I gain some of it’s wisdom.
“Nature”
Each has his own identity and his way of life. These different personalities come together in harmony; it is our life, and nature. Kyung Hee