About me
"To make the lonely feel less alone"
-Sarah C.
Hii! :) My name is Sarah Chung and being super passionate from a young age to pursue art is something I will always appreciate. The drive I had when I was 12 is baffling because I wanted to write and draw children's books while I was still a child myself. I wanted to have people recognize my talent and buy my paintings for a billion dollars. To be in exhibitions with other artists was an environment I wanted to partake in, for forever. There were endless possibilities in my mind. Then, life happened. I went to high school as a digital art major and then to LaGuardia Community College to be a Fine Arts major.
I am grateful for the opportunity to have gone to an art college to test my skills and creativity. (Foreshadowing: I took some sciences classes that helped develop my love for the Universe and Science) However, once I graduated it felt like all my confidence has dashed because there was no school, no professor, no one to tell me how life after school. With no intention of transferring to a 4 year college, I was left stuck. I truly did not know what to do, so I distracted my mind with a full time customer service job in the food industry. After months of working to death as my creativity was nonexistent, I became extremely depressed. Maybe it was the combination of the people I was around and the lack of self care and respect, but thankfully my priorities have shifted. After a long year of internal pain I decided to quit that job and try to look for a position that gave me more opportunities to be creative. Not being able to recognize myself for so long is one of my worst fears of being an artist, heck being human. That sense of identity is what molds artists (in my opinion) and what we do with that is what can help make change. All the potential was crowded in a sea of dark muggy thoughts and questions. Questions I could not answer. Not having money come in due to my mental state was nothing but embarrassing, but having a great amount of free time was the best way to discover what I truly want to experience from this lifetime. And that is where I am in my life right now, happily figuring out what would make me the happiest. As far as today as I would say. I am not here to sell expensive paintings, (nothing wrong with that, do you <3) I am not here to solely display my works of art for others to see.
I can confidently say, I am here to share my creativity to others who suffer with mental illnesses, to let them know that although life will never rid of suffering, there can be times where life is not too bad if there are enough small moments to create good times. (No like, why am I crying typing this) My art alone can not push to great lengths of human connection and that is why creating a community where the need to be understood is my most important bullet point on my to do list as an artist figuring out her career. I realize that living day by day and not focusing on the future too much is what makes life wonderful to live. Laugh at that stupid pun or have the joy of a child when you come across an animal video. Nothing should be too serious to where you fear the rest of your life. For those who can not understand mental health, they are more than welcome to at least try to know why showing compassion is the one most important and essential things they can do with people "like me" in their lives. I wish less people who commit suicide will have that one person to confide in because one conversation could possibly save a life. My art will continue to show the beauty of spirituality, the Universe, pain, suffering, healing, and every thing under the moon because painting such raw existence's of life have helped me heal. Maybe there IS that one person who relates to my art and thoughts to feel seen and appreciate their solitude. There is no blueprint to life, it doesn't begin with immense emotional trauma, that leads to self help, and then all of a sudden the need to be super happy with life. It's a constant silent battle that needs the support of others, especially if the individual feels lonely with the people in their life. I believe non sugar coated conversations through art are impactful for this day and age. I am not the first artist to do this, nor will I be the last, but the more people who come together and doing this will create a future filled with better understood individuals.
If you read all the way till the bottom, I thank you so much because now you can try to help that one person in your life with your creativity, your words, your expression and/or the most important...your heart. The drive to help others and to put aside your ego is one of the most vulnerable, but beautiful things in this life.