The two important elements of my work are humor and unfamiliarity. When I encountered a stuffed dodo bird, which I had believed existed only in fairy tales, at the Czech National Museum, I felt the subtle emotions of strangeness and perplexity. In that moment, I couldn't tell if the dodo bird had come to life from the fairy tale or if I had entered the fairy tale myself. I want to capture the fleeting moment of unique confusion, unfamiliarity, and the subsequent strange sense of delight with precision. Various unfamiliar and alien subjects coexist skillfully within a single frame. However, upon closer examination, one realizes that the unfamiliar images are ultimately composed of familiar elements, blending together to create a cohesive whole.
I create my own "garden." This "garden" is a space that exists only in my imagination, separate from the current world. It is both an escape from reality and a place where human nature is laid bare, reminiscent of the long-lost Eden. The created garden and its unfamiliar landscapes are realized through a specific and systematic approach, rather than being dismissed as mere surrealistic tendencies. It is as if this "garden" actually exists somewhere, and the dodo bird spewing fire has been living there for a long time.
My work is influenced by the flat composition with extreme restraint of light and shadow, as well as the vivid colors and images of ukiyo-e (Japanese woodblock prints) and animation. As someone who has been exposed to a lot of cartoons since childhood, the characteristics of characterizing images, satire, humor, and simple expression naturally began to emerge. Overall, I use a flat composition with clean and concise colors, depicting only the necessary parts of the image by cutting them out.However, in terms of the medium used to express my work, I employ various materials ranging from oil paints to acrylics and colored pencils.
The visible color palette does not appear all at once, but is built up layer by layer with thin washes of paint. This technique allows for the creation of subtle and deep colors that are not immediately apparent. The glossy surface of oil paint and the matte surface of acrylics create an intriguing juxtaposition, while the layering gives a sense of depth. Additionally, the use of colored pencils for detailed rendering completes the artwork. Despite the seemingly cruel imagery, the soft and bright feeling of the contrasting pastel colors gives a sense of strangeness to the space.In my work, the infiltration of my faith is seamlessly integrated into the created garden. It represents the psychological state of human beings who long for and yearn for the perfect Eden before their fall. Within my artwork, you will find faces of people filled with greed and various unfamiliar creatures. The eyeless, mysterious faces serve as vessels for blowing wind, becoming weapons for flowers, or turning into clouds.
On the other hand, human-shaped trees with lush branches extend their faces, undergoing poetic transformations. For example, faces bleeding while trapped in large animal fur or trees devouring people, or reeds being cut and bleeding due to fire, various stories that may not be immediately understood unfold.
However, anyone can sense that this Eden is engulfed in blood and fire, hinting at ominous signs rather than peacefulness.Through the combination of unfamiliar and alien objects, I aim to express the world of irony and wit, allowing for a playful experience at the boundary between reality and fantasy.