“Traditional Asian art often referenced hope and luck, with sculptures of Buddha meant to bring happiness and long life. Asian art was never a propaganda tool but rather a utility object; it was used to depict nature and the four seasons, which became a representation of life, death, reincarnation, and Zen. The West, on the other hand, built history on portrait painting, funded by the aristocracy to idealize themselves and their lifestyle, with Napoleon being a prime example. I appreciate both traditions and follow the historical trends of the West while also incorporating the emotional elements of nature and life that are prominent in Asian art.”