PATHS TO PEACE
Artist Statement: The Ruins of War and Arise Oh Compatriots
I am deeply moved by the complexities of our shared human experience, particularly in the face of war and conflict. The Ruins of War and Arise Oh Compatriots series are my attempts to process and reflect on the trauma and resilience that emerge in times of crisis. Through these works, I seek to amplify the voices of those directly affected by war, while interrogating the role of global powers in shaping our collective fate.
The use of everyday materials —ceramics, wire, textiles, print media—is intentional. It serves as a reminder that the personal is always political, and that the struggles faced by nations are felt intimately by individuals: families, communities, and future generations.
I draw inspiration from those who have embodied the pursuit of peace in the face of adversity. Figures like Nelson Mandela, Bob Marley, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—each using different mediums: political leadership, music, and civil activism—were united by a common vision: peace through justice, love, and dignity. Their legacies serve as guiding lights in my practice, as I explore the cost of conflict and the enduring hope for reconciliation, healing, and global empathy.
Ruins of War I -Echoes of Peace
2025. Printmaking. Dimensions: H:16” × W:11
In the shadow of war, where tanks roar and soldiers stand, the cries of the innocent reverberate across a desolate land. A boy, his school bag slung over his shoulder, steps through the rubble and dust, witnessing the destruction of dreams turned to rust. Amid the chaos, protesters rise with voices of resistance, chanting: “Stop the war, bring peace.” This print serves as a visual meditation on the resilience of the human spirit in the face of conflict, capturing the tension between destruction and the enduring hope for a peaceful future.
Ruins of War II -The Forgotten Child
2025. Printmaking. Dimensions: H:15” × W:10.5”
A child, frail and alone, left without a parent’s embrace, withers in silence, their story of sorrow left untold. The classroom, once a place of laughter and learning, now stands abandoned—its walls echoing only fear. This print captures the haunting image of innocence lost amidst the devastation of war, reflecting the emotional toll on the youngest victims who are often forgotten in the aftermath of conflict.
Ruins of War III -Walking Through Yesterday
2025. Printmaking. Dimensions: H:14” × W:10.5”
Walking Through Yesterday reflects the profound memory and trauma of a broken-hearted mother fleeing through streets once whole. She carries the weight of survival, with the souls of her children in tow. This print evokes the emotional burden of displacement, capturing the pain of leaving behind everything once familiar while striving to protect the hope for a future that seems ever distant.
Ruins of War IV -Seeds in the Ashes
2025. Printmaking. Dimensions: H:15.0” × W:11.0”
Amid the destruction of tanks, soldiers, and crumbling landscapes, this work contrasts the devastation of conflict with the enduring hope for a better future. At its heart, children—symbols of innocence and resilience—tend to a fragile tree of hope, embodying a quiet yet powerful plea for peace.Their presence affirms that even in the darkest chaos, the spark of compassion can survive. From that spark, a renewed world may grow.
Ruins of War V -Fragments of a Shattered Self
2025. Ceramics – Glazed Stoneware. Dimensions H:10” × W:1”1 x D: 3.5”
This work delves into the inner casualties of war, where the battlefield is not just physical, but deeply psychological. Through fragmented form and textured glaze, it captures the lingering echoes of trauma, sorrow, and the quiet weight of hopelessness. In moments of solitude, these emotions surface unexpectedly calling forth a question many carry in silence: “Where do I go from here?” This piece delves into the inner casualties of war, where echoes of trauma and sorrow quietly soar. Moments of hopelessness, lingering deep inside, a self-reflection on where one’s path might hide —In the stillness, the question lingers, clear and near: “Where do I go, when all is left unclear?”
Vessel of Nonviolence: Echoes of a Dream
2025. Ceramics – Stoneware. Dimensions H:13.5” × W:9.5” x D:32”
This vase honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a steadfast advocate for peace, whose vision of justice was rooted in nonviolence, compassion, and unity. Through peaceful protest and powerful oratory, he confronted oppression not with hatred, but with hope—believing that love and understanding were the most enduring tools for change. His legacy affirms that true peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice, equality, and human dignity. “True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.”
— Martin Luther King Jr.
Vessel of Rhythm: Legacy of Peace
2025. Ceramics – Stoneware. Dimensions H:6” × W:10” x D:30.5”
This piece honors Bob Marley, whose music became a global anthem for peace, love, and unity. Through reggae’s powerful rhythm and conscious lyrics, Marley challenged injustice and uplifted the spirit of a generation. His songs—rooted in hope, resistance, and reconciliation—transcended borders and spoke to the universal human longing for freedom and dignity. More than an artist, he was a messenger of peace, reminding the world that change begins with compassion and courage. “One love, one heart… let’s get together and feel all right.”
— Bob Marley
Arise Oh Compatriots I -The Call
2022. Ceramics (Casting), Installation. Dimensions: H:10” × W:28”
In this installation, “The Squirrels” serve as a metaphorical alarm—an urgent S.O.S. from the Ukrainian people to the global community. The work captures a moment of collective outcry, pleading for intervention, solidarity, and support in the face of violent conflict with the Russian army. Through sculptural repetition and material tension, the piece underscores both the desperation and resilience of a nation under siege.
Arise Oh Compatriots IV -Message Delivered
2022. Coffee and Pen on Cardboard. Dimensions: H:48” × W:31”
This drawing acts as a visual warning about the far-reaching consequences of Putin’s war in Ukraine. The use of coffee as a medium is intentionally symbolizing the disruption of everyday peace and the loss of ordinary comforts, such as enjoying a simple cup at home. Through its stark, textured surface, the work conveys the emotional and social toll of conflict, reminding viewers that war fractures not only nations, but also the quiet rituals of daily life.
Arise Oh Compatriots II -Response
2022. Mixed Media – Ceramics, Metal, Metal Wire, and Flags Dimensions: H:14” × W:12” x D:35”
This work embodies the brave response of a patriotic comrade to an urgent S.O.S. call. It symbolizes solidarity, courage, and the unwavering will to defend and protect amidst the turmoil of war. The contrasting materials—ceramic fragility, metal strength, and national symbols—converge to reflect the tension between vulnerability and resilience during times of crisis.
Arise Oh Compatriots III -Ambassadors of Peace
2022. Mixed Media – Ceramics, Metal, Metal Wire, Wood, and Flags Dimensions: H:48” × W:31” x D:35”
In this conceptual installation, squirrels serve as metaphorical ambassadors, representing nations that have responded to Ukraine’s urgent S.O.S. call amid the ongoing war with Russia. The imagery of squirrels climbing a tree—topped with a U.S. flag—evokes the global effort, led in part by the United States, to mediate through diplomacy, dialogue, and peacebuilding rather than further conflict. By personifying international responses, the work becomes a call to reflect on the power of peaceful resolution in the face of violence and division.
Arise Oh Compatriots V -Putin’s Reply
2022. Etching. Dimensions: H:10” × W:10”
The world waits in tense anticipation for Putin’s response… This phrase anchors the work in a moment of global uncertainty and suspense, capturing high stakes and fragile hope for peaceful resolution amid the ongoing conflict. The etching’s restrained form reflects the uneasy silence between diplomacy and escalation—where decisions made by one can alter the fate of many.