My artwork was inspired by the famous art piece, The Bean Harvest, by Helen McNicoll. As a second-generation Canadian, it reminded me of the countryside of Korea, which I haven’t been to but always imagined. Even though I have never seen the nature, peacefulness, and freedom in real life, I know of it from listening to my parent’s past experiences. Helen McNicoll’s way of painting and how she expressed her perspective inspired me to create it into a Korean cultural art piece. In this painting, I tried to show a side of my parent’s home country by painting traditional farming clothes that Korean grandmas typically wear. The unique floral pants are called “Gojaeng” which grabbed my interest for their vibrant floral pattern. Furthermore, I hope this artwork shows my Korean identity even if I am Canadian.

–Yurah Cho (Grade 9, Lynn’s Art Class, Coquitlam, British Columbia)

One of the nation’s most prolific artists, Helen McNicoll (1879–1915) garnered acclaim for her bright and sunny representations of rural landscapes, child subjects, and modern female figures—works that helped to popularize Impressionism in Canada.