CLAIRE SEO and Yuni Ko’s STUDENT’S Art Exhibition
(The Lupus Ontario donation sale)
“Growing up with an artist mother with Lupus, Claire has observed the effect lupus has on Yuni’s art and the effect art has on her lupus. She noticed that the relationship between her mother’s passion of art and Lupus has been both a challenge and an inspiration. Using hands as the main source of energy, suffering from inflamed joints in the fingers and wrists have been a great physical and mental battle. Symptoms of her Lupus are not limited to the physical pains; including constant flare-ups, swollen joints, pounding acheiness, heavy fatigue, muscle cramps, overwhelming dizziness, insomnia, and more. Due to Lupus, other health issues can easily arise, and Yuni must depend on strong medications to subside the pain and even do so much as gripping a spoon to eat breakfast. Contrastingly, even through the pain, art has always been an outlet of relief and healing for Yuni. Through her mother’s story, Claire looks to unite the power of creativity in the arts to support the Lupus Ontario; and continue to raise awareness of Lupus research and the power art has of healing.
The impact of Lupus in Claire’s life quite literally started at the moment of her conception. Doctors have named Claire “the miracle baby” as most health professionals told Yuni that it was not possible to have a baby with her Lupus flareups and symptoms. After extensive consultation, guidance, and assistance from medical professionals, Claire was miraculously born into this world without any health concerns. The individuals to truly thank for Claire’s life are the supportive, caring, and encouraging family, friends, doctors, and therapists who guided Yuni to have Claire. Yuni always says that she is incredibly fortunate to have these people in her life, never letting a day pass without reminding herself of her gratitude and thanks.
The show, “Butterfly for HOPE”, is inspired by Yuni’s story. The purpose of this exhibition is to raise awareness about the impact art has on the individual and its relationship with health and healing. The purple butterfly is a symbol used to unify the Lupus community—it serves as a symbol of hope. The symbol is rooted in the “butterfly-shaped” rash that majority of Lupus patients develop on their face.
The show will exhibit Claire’s artwork since she was three years old, demonstrating the progress and role art has played in her upbringing; more so, the lessons that Yuni has taught her in her art that translates to her everyday values. In addition to Claire’s artwork, many of Yuni’s talented students’ artwork will be showcased. Yuni’s teachings encourage each of her students to employ creativity, passion, patience, and utilize different perspectives. Lupus has forced challenge to Yuni’s life, but she persists to look beyond her pain and searches for outlets of healing and peace. Advice she offers to 
Claire and her students is to defy a linear approach and work towards a solution from multiple methods, in order to develop a growth mindset. This has not only taught her students to create and problem solve within art projects, but navigate life with a positive and welcoming attitude towards challenges. She hopes that all her students can become individuals that have an optimistic outlook on their art, themselves, and their life.
Thank you!
Claire Seo