Despite having birthed the first king of Korea in its origin myth, the bear is seldom depicted or seen in traditional Korean art. The bear woman’s birth of King Tangeun is what lent legitimacy to his rise to power by grounding his origin in the mythical. 

Bear Woman’s (Ungnyeo) role was critical to building a cohesive national mythology, yet she is rarely given her due in artistic or cultural representation. I sought to put her and the many other women of Korea in the heavens. Her left hand holds the bundle of mugwort and garlic, while her right hand cradles her belly. I drew upon both Buddhist and Catholic style of religious motifs to compose this piece. 

The top right corner depicts the profile of King Sondok, the first female king of Korea, who reigned during the Silla Dynasty. She was specifically entitled as “King” and not Queen in the Silla annals. The top left depicts Shim Saimdang, a prolific painter and mother of the most famous scholar of the Joseon Dynasty, Yulgok. The bottom left depicts Yu Gwansoon, the “Joan of Arc” of Korea, she was a freedom fighter during the Japanese colonization of Korea and later martyred. The bottom right corner remains blank, leaving space for future Korean women across the diaspora and also room for the viewer, the fifth powerful woman who gazes upon the painting.