Meet Ahyun Jeon | Artist, Painter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ahyun Jeon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ahyun, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I was young, I went to kindergarten in the United States for one year and six months. At that time, I started kindergarten without even knowing the alphabet. I said hello in Korean, but what I received back was not Korean but an alien language. This communication breakdown came as a great fear to me. After that, all I could do was draw. When I drew, my teacher and friends greeted me with bright smiles. Although I did not understand language, communicating through visual media gave me great joy; from then on, I dreamed of becoming an artist. And as a painter, sharing emotions and empathy through my work has become one of my most important things. As time passed I had the opportunity to realize again how important communication through artwork is.

When I was an undergraduate, I suddenly began to have doubts about ‘love.’ The love we encounter in novels, dramas, and movies is beautiful and fantastic. However, through my experience, I began to think about whether love is an illusion created solely to justify satisfying sexual desires. From then on, I analyzed the ambivalence about specific emotions and states. And after seeing the works painted on this theme, viewers told me about their experiences and felt a sense of emotional irony. I was able to relate to people visually again. Furthermore, I learned that expressing these emotions through painting was one of my defense mechanisms, and this has continued into my current work.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As an emerging artist, I am still discovering what makes me unique and what aspects of my work I can be proud of. To me, painting itself brings happiness and fulfillment. However, I am looking forward to future growth and development. As someone who values balance and harmony in artistic expression, I continually strive to study and improve these elements. I have great hopes that my work will develop in the future.

I want the world to know me as “an artist who seeks to communicate visually through artworks.” Sharing my story is important because I believe my experience is not unique. In today’s fast-paced world, where the Internet accelerates communication, we are constantly exposed to rapid changes and stimuli that affect human relationships. As a result, I struggle with rapidly changing emotions and sometimes experience ambiguity. I want to share these experiences, recognizing that they are not unique. And I hope this gives people comfort and an opportunity to reflect on themselves.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I really like Chelsea. There are many blue-chip galleries in Chelsea and even the Whitney Museum of American Art. Also, there are many delicious things as well as art. I also like the pizzas in Chelsea Market, and it’s really enjoyable to explore the various markets inside. Oh, and I can’t leave out the Hudson River. On sunny days, lying on the grass by the river, you can see dogs playing and geese wandering around. If you want to enjoy peace in the midst of New York City, I definitely think it’s Chelsea.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to express my gratitude to my family and friends. They have been great inspirations and sources of support for me. When I struggled with negative emotions, those around me showed me the positive side—moments of despair and unhappiness made me realize the potential for growth in my future life. Conversely, I also experienced that happiness and joy are fleeting and not permanent. The stories of my family and friends exposed me to different worlds, shaping my perspective on the world. Moreover, this perspective has greatly inspired me as I work on the experiences and emotions of people in society.

Website: https://jeonahyun0213.wixsite.com/ahyunjeon

Instagram: @art_aj_art