Alchemy based on Dependent Origination.

Human life and relationships mirror the sight of wetland tree vines tangled intensely toward a single branch, holding one another in a close embrace. The trajectories of life, constantly bumping and overlapping in their outward pursuit, are vividly embedded in this rugged and fierce jungle landscape. Within this complex structure—where a stem is enveloped as it tries to extend, and held back as it attempts to move forward—life practices a silent alchemy for half a century. Recognizing its own pattern within the realm of "Pratītyasamutpāda" (the law of dependent origination), where everything is intimately connected through cause and effect, a single stem finally achieves the realization of a dimensional shift. Summoning all its strength and courage, it executes a "Quantum Jump," breaking through the dense flow of vines by a mere 2mm to soar straight toward the sky. The true marvel occurs at that very moment: the vines that once held the stem so tightly now transform into a support system stronger than any root, firmly holding up the stem that reaches for the heavens. This is a cosmic order and an alchemy of life, where the bond of holding one another mutates into the most powerful support. This work is a "Self-Portrait" that captures the resilient recovery and intrinsic beauty of all beings that courageously shift dimensions and ultimately blossom, even within the complex entanglements of life. To visually embody this profound philosophy, the foundational forms utilize acrylic paint and spray to intensely express the raw and tangled vitality of the wetlands, while the delicate stems and branches of the vines are layered through paint markers and precise pointillism. Furthermore, oil pastels were integrated into the piece to convey the warm vitality and texture of the stem that resolutely achieved its dimensional shift amidst the complex entanglement. To honor the strong, essential value of making a quantum jump toward the sky, a brilliant golden hue was chosen to symbolize strength, while Swarovski crystals were added to emphasize the ultimate beauty and shimmer of a bond transformed into support.