MeeWha Alana Lee

Discounted $10000

This painting is a poignant and socially conscious piece that juxtaposes a simple street scene to highlight a stark, uncomfortable reality.

Two women, either a mother and her daughter or a mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law, are passing a storefront - specifically a baby shop that is advertising significant sales or "discounts."

The shop windows represent the "idealized" world of childhood, consumerism, and the bright, polished expectations of motherhood. The word, "Discounted," (often seen in signage) serves both as the title and the central irony of the piece.

The women are moving past the store, likely amid their daily lives. Their presence in front of the "discount" signs creates a visual metaphor for how society often perceives or treats them. Society often “discounts” the value and humanity of Korean women. They are frequently overlooked or undervalued, much like "clearance" items that people pass by without a second thought.

Njenge Mbokodo (like a rock)‍ ‍$13000

The woman and ocean depicted in the triptych bring a distinct, poetic perspective to this subject. By placing the single panel of the woman between two panels of the ocean, a powerful metaphor of depth and endurance is realized.

• The Woman (Central Strength): The title, Njenge Mbokodo (like a rock), anchors the human element. In this painting, the woman is the "rock" against which the waves of life crash. Her presence is quiet yet immovable.

• The Ocean (The Infinite): The two panels of the ocean represent the vast, often turbulent environment of the African woman's experience. The ocean is a symbol of both life-giving power and overwhelming force. By dedicating two-thirds of the canvas to the sea, Lee emphasizes the scale of the "waves" these women navigate every day. The two panels also depict the woman’s ability to remain steady amid a vast, shifting horizon.

Used these multi-panel formats also to tell a story of impermanence vs. permanence. The ocean is ever-changing (impermanence), while the woman—the Mbokodo—is a permanent fixture.