Talisman for Mother Earth

"Talisman for Mother Earth" is a cyanotype series rooted in Korean shamanistic traditions, created as a tribute to the Earth in need of healing. The work intertwines photography and spiritual symbolism, capturing abandoned sites, near-extinct animals, and dried-up trees; silent witnesses to environmental destruction.

Using a two-layer cyanotype process, I first develop the image and then bleach it, allowing the photograph to fade like a distant memory. Over this, I re-developed the image, incorporating talismanic drawings made with photographic chemicals. At first glance, the blue talisman symbols are the most visible, but as viewers spend time with the work, the underlying photograph slowly emerges. This layered effect mirrors the way we perceive nature—often seeing only the surface until we take the time to truly look.

The talisman patterns in this work are inspired by Bujeok, traditional Korean symbols used for healing, protection, and well-being. Unlike common misconceptions of talismans as supernatural or ominous, Bujeok has long been an everyday practice in Korea, with households creating their own to bring safety, health, and good fortune. By incorporating these ancient markings into my cyanotypes, I reimagine them as blessings for the Earth - an artistic ritual to ward off destruction and invite renewal.

Blending ancient wisdom with a photographic process deeply tied to the elements like sunlight, water, and minerals, this series offers a quiet invocation for balance and a reminder that nature, like these symbols, carries messages of resilience and care.