Shinmok (2026) Original Oil Painting by Marina Ogai

In Korean tradition, Shinmok is a guardian tree. Historically, people tied red ribbons to its branches to leave their burdens behind and release their accumulated inner weight. This act created a strict boundary: the red lines marked a perimeter within which a zone of absolute sanctuary and stillness began.

In the context of this artwork, this space becomes a metaphor for an inner refuge. The piece captures a state where a person allows themselves to let go of total control and no longer bear responsibility for everything around them. It is a reflection on the right to vulnerability and a restorative pause – that point where one no longer needs to be strong, and it is enough to simply be.

Ships stretched and ready to hang, in a protective box.

Materials used:

oil

Details:

• Oil painting on Canvas
• One of a kind artwork
• Size: 120 x 90 x 5cm (unframed)
• Ready to hang
• Signed certificate of authenticity
• Style: Expressive and gestural
• Subject: People and portraits