Jin

My recent works revolve around dreams and the visual fragments I retrieve from my dream experiences. These serve as the foundation, which I then merge with inspirations drawn from my fascination and close observation of everyday objects.

I usually begin by capturing a partially formed scene from a dream, then enhance it with my imagination and design to bring a sense of realism. Often, I collect elements from dreams that don’t form a complete image and record them for future use. Later, I combine and refine them to construct a full composition. It’s a deeply engaging and enjoyable process.

A major influence is my desire to constantly explore and uncover new possibilities within my own work. Through this process, I not only examine myself objectively but also gain a deeper understanding of the world.

What sets my work apart is a visual language that merges the surreal with the intimately familiar. I create tension between reality and imagination through precise rendering and unexpected compositions.
This is especially evident in Dining Table and Siren’s Boudoir, featured on the covers of Divide Magazine. Dining Table, also a Selected Winner in American Illustration 43, depicts a quiet domestic scene that feels subtly uncanny—suggesting control or an unseen shift. Siren’s Boudoir contrasts softness with spatial unease, evoking a dreamlike atmosphere. Both works explore the boundary between containment and release.
I see my strength in holding such contradictions in tension while preserving unity. In that space—between clarity and ambiguity—my artistic voice takes shape.

I want my art to be an invitation—an open space where viewers can bring their own feelings and thoughts. Rather than delivering a fixed message, my work encourages a personal dialogue, where each person might discover different emotions or stories within the imagery.
While there is often a subtle sense of tension or imbalance beneath the surface, I also hope viewers simply enjoy the sensory experience—the textures, colors, and forms that invite immersion. The goal is for the artwork to provide a conversation that doesn’t require my physical presence—offering people a brief mental escape from the busy realities of everyday life.

For me, the greatest challenge lies in both building and breaking down structures in my work. Sometimes these processes happen simultaneously, and I must stay mindful of where the “ground” or foundation of the piece lies. This is often a cyclical process, and the hardest part is finding my own way to simplify and subtract from my work while keeping its essence.

The most direct and rewarding experience is having my work appreciated and recognized. For instance, my pieces were selected as winners in both the 43rd and 44th editions of American Illustration, and have been featured in magazines such as Artistonish, Spotlight, Create! Magazine, and Artist Portfolio. A particularly meaningful moment was when my artwork was chosen as both the front and back cover of Divide Magazine. Positive feedback from the outside world provides immense encouragement and motivates me to keep creating and exploring further.

For me, tradition and innovation are complementary forces in my artistic practice. Tradition lies in the disciplined painting techniques and respect for classical methods that ground my work in tangible reality, providing a solid foundation.
Innovation appears in how I conceive and arrange elements within my compositions—through imagination, experimentation, and personal narrative—to create new visual dialogues. By clearly separating these aspects, I push boundaries without losing the precision that tradition offers.
This balance is dynamic, a constant negotiation that keeps my work both rooted and exploratory. Through this interplay, I maintain artistic integrity while evolving my visual language.

I admire work that, beyond expressing and connecting, also achieves pure visual beauty. When I can engage in watching, observing, feeling, and reflecting—when a piece allows for this layered experience—it becomes truly good art in my eyes.

I believe the artists serve as providers of new perspectives and experiences—offering fresh ways of seeing and being that challenge conventional understanding. In a world saturated with information and noise, artists create spaces for reflection, wonder, and transformation.
Discovering a new artist can feel like encountering a new planet—an unfamiliar world that expands our horizons and deepens our awareness. Through this encounter, both the artist and the viewers are invited to explore broader possibilities, not only visually but also emotionally and intellectually.
Ultimately, the artists’ role is to open doors to unknown territories within and beyond ourselves, helping us navigate the complexities of contemporary life with renewed curiosity and insight.