Hot Hot Hot 48 inch x 72 inch acrylic on canvas + cut out paper 2102
Mi Ju, a young, very gifted painter from South Korea, symbolism is imbedded in mythological dream and fantasy as a means to interpret her upbringing in - and emigration from – a divided country. She connects her past and her present via a blend of traditional Korean motif and myth, along with current political and personal subject matter.
Born in South Korea, her father ran a textile factory and mother was a florist for a Buddhist temple. Massive rolls of fabric were always around her during her childhood, their colorful patterns and diverse textures affecting her visual expression. The intricate natural ornaments and bizarre creatures filling Buddhist temples also fed the artist’s imagination. She writes,
Water 54 inch x 78 inch acrylic on canvas + cut out paper 2102
Lava 36 inch x 48 inch acrylic on canvas + cut out paper 2102
I perceive nature as flat, crowded, and infinite. Often times, the world is too large to comprehend, too crowded to find a focus. Countless living organisms are packed layer by layer, interconnected with each other. My compositions develop from the contemplation of opposing concepts: ephemeral and eternal, uncensored and restrained, improvised and strategic. The work often combines both cuteness and violence. By understanding natural elements from micro to macro, fractals to flocks, and ants to people, I reflect mixed perceptions of nature through my work. Nature could be seen as controllable, appealing, and delightful, yet from a different perspective, natural elements can become overwhelming and destructive.
Born in South Korea, Mi received her BFA in painting and drawing at Yeungnam University and the San Francisco Art Institute. Later Mi went on to earn her MFA in painting and drawing at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. She has shown in group and solo exhibitions in Seoul, San Francisco, San Diego, Copenhagen and New York. Her work was recently acquired by the Fredrick R. Weisman Foundation of Los Angeles. Mi currently lives and works in Brooklyn.
Ash 10 inch x 8 inch acrylic on canvas + cut out paper 2102
Dirts 10 inch x 8 inch acrylic on canvas + cut out paper 2102
Pollens 10 inch x 8 inch acrylic on canvas + cut out paper 2102
Studying in Australia, San Francisco, and New York has given me insight into the various perspectives people have about nature. Native American totem poles, Aboriginal topographical art, and the complexity of psychedelic art all influence my artistic process. I look to scientific theories on the origin of life, emergence patterns, and swarm behavior to introduce more intricacy and narrative into my work.
Mi Ju
