Suki Kwon, professor of art and design, threw prayers to the wind at the 2023 Art for Change International Artist Residency in India.
At the foothills of the Himalayas, Kwon, Graul Endowed Chair in Arts and Languages, gathered with 14 other artists from around the globe to create artwork celebrating the theme “the nature of difference.”
The diverse group of artists collaborated for two weeks at the historic Woodstock School in Mussoorie, India, where the forest became their studio. Along with immersive engagement and art-making, they explored the ecology and biodiversity of the Himalaya on nature walks and talks led by local experts.
“The residency was focused on exploring the place, the nature and the differences,” she said. Kwon noted that because the theme could be interpreted in so many different ways, the artwork participants created represented a wide spectrum of contemplation.
From paint to resin, the residents used a variety of media to create their artwork. Each participant’s choice of materials and artistic venues showcased how they personally explored and understood differences in nature, Kwon said.
Kwon worked with textiles to create her piece for the final exhibition. “I was shocked and intrigued by the rich and long tradition of textile in India,” Kwon said. “I’ve been working a lot with that medium, and I was stunned by how rich and vivid the textile culture was.”
Using fabric she purchased in Delhi during the first days of the residency, Kwon made a mandala. The piece — titled Mussoorie Mandala — was inspired by Tibetan prayer flags, which are meant to spread goodwill with the wind. In that same spirit, Kwon hung the piece in the forest for the breeze to disperse the prayers it contained.
Kwon also spent time exploring the Catholic Marianist tradition while she was abroad. With the assistance of Vincent Miller, Gudorf Chair in Catholic Theology and Culture, she visited five Marianist communities in Ranchi, India. The communities, made up of both Indian and international brothers and sisters, provide educational services to marginalized groups in their surrounding areas.
“These Marianist sisters and brothers help children from families with very limited means who cannot afford or did not have the notion to go to school,” Kwon said. “It was quite magical to see what the Marianist communities are doing in India and what kind of impact they have on the people around them.”
Kwon drew inspiration from the various religious traditions she encountered in India to further engage with the theme “nature of difference.” Born and raised a Christian but heavily influenced by Buddhist culture, Kwon said she found valuable intersections between faith traditions in her artwork.
“I think the work I do is somewhat fused and integrated,” she said. “I’m making a mandala with an Indian fabric, but all these prayers are very Christian-based. To me, it’s the nature of difference, but the nature of difference is integrated.”
At the conclusion of the residency, Kwon said she felt she had engaged in a life-changing experience that would leave a lasting impact, both professionally and personally.
“Every single day was a challenge, yet a great thing,” she said. “Every single day I felt blessed. Blessed by nature, by people, by opportunity, by time, space and everything.”