Jeong Min Park is an Artist who creates both traditional paintings and installations that can fill entire rooms. She holds an MFA and has exhibited her art in many different countries. Jeong Min Park was born in South Korea but moved to New York when she was a young woman--largely to further her career in the arts.
To date, she has had fourteen solo shows and participated in many more group exhibitions. Jeong Min Park recently discussed her art and experiences working as a creator in an exclusive Interview.
Influences
Blasting News (BN): What prompted you to enter the field of art and what artists are your greatest influences?
Jeong Min Park (JMP): When I was young, I went to a Picasso museum in Japan with my family. There were many paintings there, and I enjoyed my visit as much as if I was in a park. It was an inspiration for me to see Picasso’s paintings because I could not take my eyes off them.
Even though I was young at that time, I have never forgotten the feeling--his paintings are without restraint, kind of like children! The feeling triggered me to draw pictures naturally, so I always tried to draw the free play of my imagination, and my long-cherished desire has continued to the present day. My aspiration was partially fulfilled after deciding to become a painter which I did when I was still quite young.
BN: How did you master the themes and styles in your work and what mediums do you enjoy using the most?
JMP: I have two ways of painting which I refer to as the “Autogenesis” series and “Come Empty, Return Empty.”
“Autogenesis” is made using Korean pigments on a soft and thin canvas, so the artwork ends up resembling a traditional kind of Asian painting on silk or paper.
Although close to abstract art, my works are not entirely abstract since a purely abstract style would stifle my imagination and ideas. I start with an abstract process but, as I work, images start to form that remind me of sea creatures or landscapes that that directs how I finish the painting.
“Come Empty; Return Empty” describe the art I made using mulberry paper.
I consider them to be symbolic of my mind. Since I draw daily, my thoughts are processed in into marks like lines, dots, planes and so on. Essentially, pieces of paper are akin to a diary or a journal for me.
I regard each sheet as being an individual piece of art as well as a section within a much larger body of artwork that emerges when all the drawings are combined. Every image aims to represent my emotions and thoughts somehow as well as showcasing a collection of my ideas which are ever-changing.
BN: Out of all your artwork, do you have any pieces that you consider to be favorites."
JMP: Even though all my artworks are precious for me, I like the blue paintings of the Autogenesis series because they show numerous layers and lines which look like mountains, water flowing, or deep fog.
Whenever I finish the works, I feel pleasure, and so far people’s responses have also been really good.
Exhibitions
BN: You recently showed at the Demouzy Gallery in Rockville Center on Long Island, so how did you find out about them?
JMP: A professor of mine named Seung Lee had a solo show at the Demouzy Gallery, and I thought it was a great gallery for artists to display work because of its amazing space. Later, I was fortunate in that a curator named Dong Hee Lee invited me to take part in a group exhibition that she was arranging there.
BN: Where else have you exhibited art and what are your biggest aspirations for your career?
JMP: Over the course of ten years, I have exhibited in South Korea, the United States of America, Italy and Hong Kong.
My biggest aspiration for my career is to continue creating pieces of art that make people feel peaceful, comfortable and happy in the midst of their very busy lives,
BN: What are your next big exhibitions and projects?
JMP: I will have some group exhibitions coming up soon in Korea at the Seoul Arts Center which is one of the most famous museums in the country. I will also be displaying some of my artwork at the Flushing Town Hall in Queens, New York, later this year.