The Blogs: Hyunsun Jeon’s Dreamscapes and Abstractions

The first thing one notices in Hyunsun Jeon’s ouevre “Here and There” is her use of vibrant colors—a sea of bright greens and various hues of blues, contrasted against whites, yellows, and blacks. At times, she uses different shades of red or earthy, muted tones. The artwork presents a fragmented landscape made up of disjointed objects, often geometric forms like cylinders and triangles, juxtaposed with organic ones—apples, leaves, a sheaf of grass, or drawings of figures and body parts. These elements appear in monochrome at times, while other works employ hatching, tiny dots, or grids, creating the impression of fabric woven into the composition. There are moments when it feels as if we are looking through a window, rail, or another opening into another space. This tension between interior and exterior or just simply two separate spaces adds depth to her work.

Altogether, her pieces—whether displayed on traditional canvases or in an immersive curved room installation—draw the viewer in. The experience never becomes dull; instead, it forms a visually compelling collage of unexpected components. There’s always a sense that we recognize something familiar, yet it never quite fits the expectation.

Later, when reading her press release, we learn that Hyunsun Jeon’s paintings were inspired by the feelings and fragments that remain after waking from a dream. This abstract representation reflects the vague nature of her dreams, a key interest in her work. Her art thus raises the question: What is an image, and how do we represent things? Jeon uses the window as a device to divide the canvas, creating layers of meaning and allowing multiple interpretations of the scene.

Additionally, Jeon is influenced by the digital world, particularly pixelization. Growing up with video games, she noticed how they were composed of small squares (pixels), which she incorporated into her artwork. The jerky contours and geometric shapes in her paintings mimic the digital style of early video games. Her work also plays with deconstruction and reconstruction, and her non-traditional painting formats, such as curved installations, emphasize the separation between the real space where the viewer stands and the imaginary world within.

The title “Here and There”, from her first solo exhibition in France, underscores the idea of two distinct spaces—the “here” of the real world and the “there” of the imagined world. Hyunsun Jeon created these works on Jeju, an island rich in myths, legends, and cultural significance. Jeju is not only known for its natural beauty and as a UNESCO World Heritage site but also for its deep associations with peace. Once heavily militarized, with forced labor and conscription during periods of political conflict, Jeju’s history is marked by tragedy, particularly the thousands of lives lost during the 4.3 Uprising. Today, the 4.3 Peace Park stands as a solemn tribute to the island’s painful past while promoting peace and reconciliation. Officially declared “The Island of Peace” (평화의 섬) due to its history of resilience, Jeju embodies a harmonious coexistence of nature and culture. This peaceful atmosphere and what the island stands for today likely influenced Jeon’s work, imbuing her dream-like landscapes with a sense of calm and contemplation. Green is often used in international symbols of peace, such as in the green olive branch. The island’s myths, folklore, and its connection to the struggle for peace resonate through her fragmented compositions, inviting the viewer to reflect on the relationship between place, history, peace, and imagination in her art.

As a rising star in the art world, Jeon continues to captivate audiences with her unique vision. She has already exhibited at the Seoul Museum, the Leeum Museum of Art, and the Esther Schipper Gallery in Berlin, and she is set to participate in the upcoming group exhibition “Colors of Korea” at the Korean Cultural Center in Paris. There is much more to come from this talented and dynamic artist.

March 20 – April 30, 2025

38 Avenue Matignon

75008 Paris

https://www.galerie-lelong.com/fr/exposition/377/hyunsun-jeonhere-and-there