By Honorary Reporter Foteini Chatzoudi from Greece
Photos = Jeon Ahyun 

Jeon Ahyun is an artist who creates furniture featuring paintings and sculpture that blend three-dimensional effects with traditional styles. Her series "Deep Mountains" uses modern materials like concrete, resin and wood to give a fresh take on classic Eastern landscapes and capture the calming feeling of foggy mountains.

She was among Forbes Korea's 2023 30 Under 30 list for art and won the Bronze Prize at last year's Cheongju International Craft Competition. This year, she was a finalist for the Sovereign Asian Art Prize, with her work exhibited at H Queen's in Hong Kong.

Kim Yoon-sub, chairman of the AIF Children Art Sharing Non-Profit Foundation, praised Jeon's adaptation of her art to an exhibition space, noting her impressive blend of painting, sculpture and furniture. Art critic Youk Sang-soo also mentioned the heartfelt quality of the artist's work amid the trend of more artificial and cybernetic crafts.

Below are excerpts from an email interview with Jeon from Sept. 3-11.

On the left is Jeon Ahyun's work depicting Seoraksan Mountain made with resin, wood and walnut and on the right is another of the mountain made with concrete and resin.

Why do you use Korea's mountainous terrain and nature? 
I use models of real mountains because I want to capture the genuine feeling of the mountains. Simply creating something arbitrary or imitating nature won't convey the same depth. By depicting real Korean mountains, I aim to reflect their breathtaking scenery authentically.

How was this idea for your works born?
I sought inspiration from landscape and classical Eastern paintings that bring natural scenery indoors, aiming to similarly incorporate nature into indoor spaces. I thought that "Deep Mountain," which contains the appearance of fog, resembles a classical Eastern landscape painting.

I attempted to apply this to bring three-dimensional objects indoors through traditional Korean ink painting techniques. I wanted to capture the essence of color using a monotone palette, reflecting the tones of ink in traditional landscape painting.

Jeon Ahyun's work on the left is a curved bench depicting Cheonseongsan Mountain, with a close-up view on the right.

Why do you incorporate fog into your art?
The fog symbolizes the comfort I found on foggy mountains during a time of uncertainty. The fleeting, distant appearance of the mountains and the gently flowing mist provided a sense of reassurance and peace, making me feel as if something enduring and comforting was always within reach. By incorporating fog into my work, I aim to preserve and reflect on that comforting moment, even if I haven't moved forward physically.

Jeon Ahyun's work "Deep Mountain" is displayed at Lina Gallery Busan.

How would you describe your art and what plans do you have for it?
I believe my art is a medium combining events that can be experienced in everyday life with stories obtained from nature. Perhaps I'll create another piece that captures what I have, am or will experience as if it comes before the "Deep Mountain" series.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.