Perspectives on Disabilities Exhibition

A piece created for the Perspective on Disabilities Exhibition to raise awareness for mental health. The artwork is based on my own struggles with mental health and eating disorders.

It’s impossible to find work as a fashion designer in South Korea unless you fit into a certain size. I tried several extreme diets to reach this ideal. I would drink only lemon water or eat only tomatoes, often starving myself for weeks. My stomach wall became incredibly thin as a result. Despite my efforts, I was still rejected from jobs because of my size - I was deemed too big. From then on, I was terrified to eat food and constantly suffered from stress and anxiety because of my weight.

This piece captures the pain I so often felt when thinking about my body. It features a girl crawling due to insecurity. Her body is wrapped in measuring tape and covered in pins to represent her suffering. She is held in her own hands like a pin cushion, constantly hurting herself.