Sickening Game

As the years go by, student mental health in Korea is declining at an alarming rate. The stress placed on students leads them to feel trapped or unsafe in school-related environments. However, since these struggles are surrounded by so much stigma in Korea, the probability of youth seeking help is extremely low.

In this piece, I captured the life of a student through a chess board. At the forefront is a student, a depiction of me, running and surrounded by figures dressed as chess pieces. The figures play a part in this “sickening game” and contribute to the stressful school life of many Korean students. The flying papers and notebooks add to the chaos of the piece while the clock and hands reaching out signify the overwhelming pressure of deadlines.

This piece was made with watercolor, acrylic, and colored pencil.