Celestial Beings Liberated from the Bell

The Bicheon (celestial beings) in this painting are completely different from the figures engraved on the familiar Buddhist Bell (Dongjong) frame. They are neither traditional nor uniform in pattern. They are free, original, and float through the space with their own individuality and unique energy.

While painting this work, I recalled beings who have broken free from established frameworks. They sometimes remain as heretics or marginalized figures, yet a deeper truth is often hidden within their freedom.

This work respects tradition but unfolds a new world of Bicheon based upon that tradition. They shine brighter and are freer because they have moved beyond the Bell's confinement. To be liberated from all boundaries—that is my most powerful message this painting wishes to convey to the world.