JooYoung Choi

"Out Came the Sun and Dried Up All the Rain," 2022, Acrylic on paper and canvas, 24X36 inches.

acrylic paint and permalife paper on stretched canvas, 2019

acrylic paint and paper on stretched canvas, 5X4 feet, 2019

5X5 feet, acrylic paint and paper on stretched canvas, 2016

2017. Acrylic and painted paper affixed to stretched canvas, 20X20 inches.

Inspiration
The title of this piece was inspired by my favorite childhood lullaby called “This Lovely Night”. When I was little I remember looking up at the sky and hearing this song and thinking about the fact that the stars and moon I see, would be the same one that my birth mother would see. 

The final lyric: “There's nowhere I would rather be, All through this lovely night” had always given me so much comfort. As an adult, I realized I had added the word “else” to the song. 

As a child, I would sing: There’s Nowhere Else I’d Rather Be All Through This Lovely Night, I think I added “else” to represent that far away place located elsewhere that separated me from the people who gave me life. 

I have always taken such comfort in night time, because I knew there were two places I still shared with my birth family, we could share the starscape of the night-time sky and we’d alway have the land of dreams. Often, I would think: Maybe in my dreams we could meet again.

Narrative
With regards to the Cosmic Womb narrative this painting shows Spacia Tanno, the youngest of three sisters dreaming of reuniting with her sisters named Pleasure Vision and Plan-Genda. Spacia was separated from her sisters hundred of years ago, but in her sleep, through a process called “Somnioplexic Resonance”-- the impossible is possible, and those whose hearts resonate at the same frequency can reunite in the dream realm. 

Biographical Influence

When I met my birth family, my birth father explained to me that when I was sent to America, the whole family was very sad. My grandfather was especially heart broken because I was his first grandchild.  My grandfather was a doctor, he even delivered me into this world, he named me JooYoung, and it means: Crystal chalice overflowing with life. One night he had a dream that he saw me as a baby, floating down a beautiful river, and all around me were beautiful lotuses. He said I was smiling a lot in the dream, he took it all to mean that where ever I had been sent, I was safe and happy. He told all of my relatives, and his river dream eased the fears of my family.

Characters
Spacia Tanno, a force energy who represents the power and potential of space to allow us the room to grow (i.e.the bigger the tank, the larger a goldfish can grow) also, the fact that it is when we feel space/emptiness we are most powerful (it is the empty space inside a bell that allows it to resonate a beautiful sound or the empty space inside a house that allows it to become a home.

Pleasure Vision, Spacia’s eldest sister by way of adoption, she represents the force energy of sight, the moving image, and sound. 

Plan-genda, Spacia’s biological sister, she represents the force energy of time and thoughtful planning.

Flirds, Flirds are Flat Birds, they are folded up songs that can be felt by all beings, even those who are deaf. Since Spacia Tanno is made up of Space, she can’t hear as well as her sisters, only Flirds can bring her this song in a way she can “feel it”. I love the idea that each of these Flirds could unfold themselves and reveal a printed musical composition. They represent the force power of music, more specifically song. 

Water Lillies and Lotuses, Often I think about the fact that it is only in my imaginary world the Cosmic Womb that I can bring unite the world of my childhood in New Hampshire with the place of my origins as a person of Korean descent. In this piece, I have brought Lilies which are more common in the ponds of my home town together with the less common Lotus, which is found more often in the East. I love that this piece celebrates my grandfather’s river dream, and makes visible my own interpretation of what that river might have looked like.

Final Thoughts
This painting was a joy to create. I love the fact that it is through works like this I can express my feelings to my birth family in a way no translation with words ever could. 

Lyrics to “This Lovely Night”

The room is filled with silence
It's quiet as can be, And as you hold me tight I sense the love you share with me.
Outside the clouds may fill the sky
Or stars may sparklebright
The moon may shine upon the world
Or it may rain all night.
But in the silence of our room
Each thing will be alright
As long as we're together here
All through this lovely night.
Your heart is beating softly,
I hardly dare to speak
And as you hold me tight
I feel your breath upon my cheeks.
The images of our daytime,
So quickly fade away
The things that we have found to share
Have made a lovely day.
A tremble rushes through me
As you hold me tight
There's nowhere I would rather be
All through this lovely night.

Acrylic on canvas, 3X4 feet, 2015