Awakening

There used to be a village here
She warned them
No one listened
Before the water rose
Before the story began

Inspired by the legend of Tasik Chini.



This work is inspired by the legend of Tasik Chini in Malaysia. According to the local Jakun community, a sacred dragon spirit named Seri Gumum lies asleep beneath the lake. It is said that, long ago, a group of people ignored the presence of nature and the divine. Through reckless actions，destruction, exploitation, and intrusion. They disturbed the dragon’s slumber. Awakened, the dragon unleashed a great flood that swallowed the entire village.

This story made me reflect on whether the relationship between humans and nature has long been written into these ancient myths. In the painting, the old woman represents the quiet endurance of nature, while the dragon’s awakening symbolizes a response to human interference—a force of resistance, a warning.

I chose this myth not merely as a tale, but as a powerful symbol. When humans forget that they are part of nature, the consequences are often devastating. This painting is not just a retelling of a legend, but a call to remember, to reawaken a sense of reverence and awareness toward the natural world.