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a: mirror: A

2026

a: mirror:A is an embroidery series inspired by the Korean gyeongdae(mirror stand) where furniture, embrodiery and mirror merge into a single object.

One side shows an emboroidered interpretation of gimyeongdo, a traditional Korean painting genre that scholars arranged objects that embodied their values, aspirations and way of life.
It is not simple drawing.
These paintings functioned as portraits of the self.

Drawing from the visual language of Korean folk painting, each embroidery is an original gimyeongdo compositio inspired by the cycle of the four seasons.
Spring, summer, autumn and winter become metaphors for recurring stages of human life - birth, comtemplation, love and fruition.

The other side is a mirror. As viewer encounters their own reflection, the embroidered scene and the present self overlap, bringing memory into dialogue with cultural interitance .

The octagonal frame represent the stability, balance, and harmony of traditional Korean design.

The imagery of winter unfolds through motifs of an inkstone, books, an oil lamp, and glasses. The inkstone and books represent learning and self-cultivation, the oil lamp shows study through the long winter night, and the glasses suggest careful observation and reflection.

Together, these motifs prtray a quiet yet steadfast season of contemplation and inner growth.

Summer is composed of motifs including a ltter, a teacup, a jewellery box and key, and grapes.
The letter represents the exchange of affection, the teacup shared moments, and the jewellery box and key chrished trust and intimacy. Grapes, traditionally associated with abundace through their many seeds, symbolise flourishing relationships and the continuity of life.

Together, these motifs capture a season in which affaection grows into enduring bonds.