Jongwook Park considers hand drawing a core element of his artistic approach, using it as a form of expression. Drawing from Korean Folk art (Minhwa/민화) and Contemporary Graphic Novels, he aims to develop a unique line drawing style that can be adapted to various mediums, including flat formats (pen drawings, digital prints), three-dimensional works (ceramics), and animated forms (motion graphics).

He holds an MFA in Communication Design from Sangmyung University in Seoul and a diploma in Animation Art and Design from LaSalle College in Montreal. His artwork has been showcased in exhibitions and publications across Canada, the United States, Finland, South Korea, and Japan.

Thank you for joining us, Jongwook. Please give us a little bit of background about you.

I am a visual artist from South Korea, and I currently reside in Montreal, Canada, having immigrated here in my mid-thirties. I pursued my education in various artistic disciplines, including Industrial Design and Illustration in Seoul, and subsequently Animation in Montreal, which is rooted in drawing.

I strive to develop my artistic vision rooted in my cultural background, while also embracing the connections I make in my new environment. By blending traditional Korean Folk art (‘Minhwa’), Contemporary Graphic Novel aesthetics, and scattered Korean alphabets as migration patterns and portable ornamentation, I delve into the complexities of fragmentation and question cultural expectation.

What ideas are you exploring? Do you have a specific theme or topic?

My primary focus is on developing a transitional space that visualizes the emotional and psychological intricacies of my immigrant experience, particularly in relation to communication. Upon relocating to Montreal in my thirties, I started to learn English and French. I realized that being proficient in foreign languages involves more than simply memorizing vocabulary; it requires understanding social contexts and cultural subtleties while contemplating my own cultural identity. This journey has shifted my perception of language as a crucial element in shaping my perspectives and has led me to recognize cultural identity as a fluid and evolving notion.

To deepen this perspective, I integrate the Korean Hangul alphabet into my creations to rekindle the verbal connection I long for, bridging the gap between my mother tongue and the languages I have adopted. I use these letters as portable ornamentation, in scattered form rather than a cohesive text, symbolizing migration patterns and the fluidity of human identity. In short, I want to explore the intricacies of cross-cultural creation.

What is your process like?

My ideas often come from random doodling. I like to let my thoughts flow in my sketchbooks and then go back to them later to collect ideas and visual inspiration.

How do you balance the traditional art practices and new techniques in your practice?

I do not consider my approach to be particularly ‘new.’ While digital printing and motion graphics can be seen as innovative techniques, they are rooted in my educational background in Design and Animation. I believe that traditional practices, like drawing and ceramics, provide a solid foundation that enhances my incorporation of these modern techniques.

Do you have any advice you want to share with others?

It’s not exactly advice, but I encourage you to focus on creating work that you genuinely love, rather than what you feel you should do or what you think you might like.

What are you working on right now?

I am currently working on a project that combines wood and ceramic elements alongside skilled wood artisan. My approach is to develop standalone structural sculptures that do not depend on traditional white plinths commonly found in gallery settings. With the technical expertise of the wood artisan, I intend to design my own foldable, portable, and space-efficient display structures that can be adapted to different settings while effectively communicating the core theme of establishing a transitional space. I am also engaged in self-directed learning of a 3D printing software program to explore new materials for sculpture development.

Text & photo courtesy of Jongwook Park

Website: https://jon-p.weebly.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonparkart/