Seaside Temple (2025)

As a follow up to my previous piece, "Old Meets New," I wanted to continue using the traditional Korean Hanji paper in combination with other tissues and acrylic paint, in a continued attempt to blend East and West in effective and provocative ways. As with my other mixed media work, I enjoy creating subtle layers that mimic our tendency to hold things back, just below the surface, while enticing the viewer to linger and be rewarded for investing extra time and observation.

For me, this summarizes my experiences with foreign cultures, whether my encounter is simply in a different city or state or half way around the world. I used to avoid cultures that were different from mine, because of the example with which I'd grown up. Indeed, human nature tends towards the familiar and oversimplification in order to more easily understand things. But experience has taught me that such knee-jerk responses lead to misunderstandings, complications and unnecessary anxiety. It is hard to stave off one's immediate reactions, but doing so guides us down new paths towards mutual appreciation and rewarding relationships. This is the value of cultural exchange.

That being said, longer encounters take investment--of time, energy, and even emotional stamina. In order to fully grasp a different culture, we need to be willing to spend quality time, asking thoughtful questions rather than passing quick judgment. This is the difference between curiosity and acceptance versus prejudice and stereotypes.

In this world of rich diversity, God has scattered His gifts far and wide. His desire is that we embrace and celebrate our differences, as all are expressions of His His multifaceted character and creativity. And one day, Jesus promises that He will gather together all who have chosen to follow Him from every people group throughout the world, and we will worship Him together, as one beautiful chorus, forever. What in-roads can you make today in preparation for such a future destiny?

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9-10)