$66.00

Abbamama: This term, used in Korean, refers to addressing one’s parents as if they were nobility, such as ‘His Excellency’ or ‘my great king father’ and ‘my great queen mother.’ It originated in the Middle Ages and was exclusively used within the royal court. Manners are very important to me since I come from a lineage of kings; my last name is Lee, or ‘Yi,’ from the province of Gyeongju, a place where kings resided for generations. It’s in my DNA, and royal blood runs through my veins. I decided to draw an impromptu self-portrait, reflecting on my lineage. The result was profoundly moving, especially after I discovered the self-portrait of an ancestor that bore a striking resemblance to mine, even down to his penetrating and stirring gaze. Later, I learned that my ancestor had his own mausoleum and was a painter at the king’s court. In life, nothing is coincidental.