Sumbisori. Graphite on canvas. 30" x 40", 2024. Waterscapes Exhibit by CANVAS (Center for Art, New Ventures & Sustainable Development)
'Sumbisori' is the breath sound heard on the ocean as the Jeju haenyeos first break the surface after a deep dive.
Similar to the Philippines, Jeju Island of South Korea has a deep connection to water. Although limited in land resources, its people traverse the sea and rely on it. This connection has shaped their ways of living, history, and culture.
People there coexist with the sea, thanking it and protecting it. They are part of nature itself, which the sea allows.
Nowadays, natural resources are gradually disappearing due to the changing environment. So are we, if we let it happen. Although the Philippines has an abundance of water, nothing is permanent. It is best not to take things for granted.
This piece illustrates the musicality and gracefulness of the sea and our connection with it.