[Give Chances] October Newsletter 8 ("Celestial Chair")

A Chair That Lifts the Heart — Joon Han’s “Celestial Chair”
DDartist Joon Han’s latest masterpiece, inspired by the koi’s journey of perseverance, reminds us that art lifts both the heart and the spirit.

DDartist Joon Han’s “Celestial Chair,” also known as The Chair of Love, was recently sold, marking a moment of artistic and personal triumph.

For Joon, this moment affirms years of hard work and growth as an artist: the patience and creativity required to create such a beautiful piece, and the courage to share personal meaning through his work. For our community, the sale is equally significant. It signals that art born from inclusion and care can resonate widely, reminding us that creative expression is not only seen—it is felt.

At the heart of the piece is a graceful koi fish painted across the seat. In the well-loved legend, a koi swims upstream against relentless currents and, through perseverance, transforms into a dragon. Joon chose this symbol intentionally. The koi’s journey echoes the persistence required to learn, create, and hope—even when progress feels slow. The image invites the sitter to participate in that story: to rest for a moment and rise renewed, lifted in heart to a higher and brighter place.

Thus, “Celestial Chair” emerged as a work that rises through love, hope, and resilience. The piece's radiant color palette and the vivid koi fish illustration evoke the feeling of swimming along a beautiful stream.

The patron who purchased Joon Han's beautiful piece shared that the moment she encountered the chair, her response was immediate and heartfelt. She described a feeling of immense joy. For Joon Han, witnessing his work connect so directly affirmed his chair's purpose: not merely to be a place to sit, but to change how the person who sits on it feels. The sale thus represents more than just a transaction. It stands as a deeper connection between the artist who imagined hope and the patron who now lives with it daily. 

Moments like these capture the essence of the DDartist Program: creating beauty together. Our program nurtures artists’ voices—supporting their confidence, technique, and storytelling—so that works like “Celestial Chair” can find their audience. Each success like Joon Han's reminds us that inclusion enriches art and that communities grow when diverse artists are given a platform to share their talents and voices.

A heartfelt congratulations to Joon Han for this beautiful achievement! We are so proud of you. 

Thank you to everyone who supports Give Chances and our DDartists program. Your generosity helps artists develop their craft, share their stories, and bring hope—and beauty—into the world.