GIFT — A Reconstructed Armor of Gratitude (English Version)
I have been climbing a long mountain path.
Along the way, I realized that someone close to me was nearing the end of their own journey.
There was a view I had always hoped we would see together.
But now, that moment may never come.
So I decided to give form to my gratitude.
I am here because of that person, and many others who supported me.
“What can I give back?”
That question became the beginning of this work.
In New York, I saw armor from around the world—made for war.
But I began to wonder if people living quiet lives also wore invisible armor each day.
My father was one of them.
Even when worn and scarred, he quietly kept standing.
“GIFT” is an armor not for battle, but to honor life.
Made with copper plates, braided cords, and leather, the front represents emotional layering—joy, sorrow, anger, delight—while the back carries a quiet strength and inner resolve.
I leave the texture and frayed edges of the materials untouched, preserving their memory.
The form is a vest-like armor, created as a wearable installation.
It is meant to be worn, not as fashion, but as a way to engage with the invisible emotions and memories we carry.
This work is a reconstruction of what armor can mean in a different era.
Not to fight, but to reflect.
Not to protect through force, but to honor through presence.
It is my first “GIFT” — to all those who stood by me.
