Description
‘Eternal – 영원한’ by Nadia Rausa
Artist: Nadia Rausa
Title: ‘Eternal – 영원한’
Medium: Watercolour, gouache, ink, and coloured pencil on 300gsm watercolor paper and antique photo album frame
Dimensions: 6.25″ x 5″
Framing: Unframed
Year of Creation: 2023
About the artwork:
“I have been digging into my Korean ancestry a lot lately and was inspired by how strong the people were during occupations. Even through pain and loss, they stood up and shouted for their independence. Below is a journal entry based on the show’s title, ‘Buried Connections’.
Buried ancestors—how can I access the voices, the thoughts, the pain, the smiles, the laughter of them when they are beneath the ground. I know I can probably hear them some nights in my dreams.
When they were pillaged and murdered brutally because others thought the land was theirs to take, that the people were theirs to control—were they silenced as they were buried with blood-soaked dirt? Do they rest, do they dream? Perhaps they scream as their bones disintegrate as time eats everything away.
Do my tears bring them back? When I think of them—want to connect with and learn from them—do they hear me?
Are they proud of me? I am proud of them. They were strong and outspoken. They shouted NO at the top of their lungs when their blood was shed, as they watched their children and mothers and sisters beat to the ground. They screamed NO with their blood as their fathers and brothers were kidnapped to be kept as slaves.
Are these connections buried? Or can I access them, hear them… can they hear me? I long for the connection—to unbury their lost souls, tell them how strong they were, and how their memories live on and on in our blood. We are eternal.” – Nadia Rausa
About the Artist:
Nadia Rausa is a half-Korean artist living in Alaska, USA. Considering herself a “Creative Wizard,” Nadia enjoys and has worked professionally in a plethora of creative fields. Starting as a graphic and web designer professionally in 2012, she began pursuing a career in art in 2017. In 2022, she began to expand her career with an old love: photography and filmmaking. Currently, she is living under the guise of “Creative Wizard” to give her the freedom to explore her creativity in all forms, especially through art, writing, photography, and filmmaking. Nadia is also the co-founder and Creative Director of One to a Thousand, a small publisher and inclusive community. Outside of professional endeavors, Nadia’s interests include nature, the moon and night sky, spirituality, reading horror and fantasy books, watching films, and adventuring with her life partner. You can find her pretty much anywhere online at @nadiarausa.