GABIE SALINAS

[BFA] Studio Art

As the daughter of a Korean adoptee, I have always struggled with my connection to my ancestry. I was born into a rich culture that I was not culturally a part of, I never felt justified identifying fully as Korean or American. I utilize Korean forms, namely the Korean moon jar, to display imperfect beauty. These forms are evocative representations of the nation as a whole, and I am able to situate myself into a larger conversation of the many unique experiences of descendants of immigrants. Through my work I connect personal feelings of family, social constructs, and fleeting moments, to the ideas of the Korean makers of the Joseon Dynasty.

I use these forms as an alternative canvas, displaying themes of the Korean folk art style known as Minhwa. The “painting of the people” are representative of the common people of the late Joseon dynasty. I modernize this imagery, utilizing the themes of magpies and cranes to create deeply personal images of dancing natural scenes and the power play of the animals. My practice has become a physical manifestation of accepting imperfections and serves as a means to begin understanding and connecting to Korean culture as an outsider.

Gabie Salinas is currently completing a BFA in Studio Art with an emphasis in ceramics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She reimagines traditional Korean ceramic forms, specifically from the Joseon Dynasty, as a form of reconnecting with her genealogy. Through detailed surface decoration, she communicates moments through divine animals and their meanings through Korean folktales. She has shown her work in the Medici Gallery at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.