encounter Painting

Haejin Yoo, a self-taught acrylic artist born in Seoul, South Korea, creates surrealistic expressionist art to evoke past and present emotions. In her artistic exploration, Haejin extends beyond the canvas, integrating mixed media such as acrylics, textiles, carpentry, and spray paint. Her intention is to breathe life into the image, surpassing the constraints of a flat surface. Whether painting onto the frame itself or infusing various materials, each element contributes to the illusion of her surreal expressions. Haejin's artistic passion was discovered at a young age but was suppressed until her late twenties. She now lives in Cologne, Germany, where she exhibits her work across Europe. Haejin's accolades include winning the Merit Prize Award from Teravarna's International Juried Art Competition (2023), First Prize Abstract Award at FIRA International Art Fair Barcelona 2022, and exhibiting at The Other Art Fair London and Los Angeles in 2023, and upcoming at The Other Art Fair London in March 2024. ARTIST STATEMENT I'm Haejin Yoo, a self-taught acrylic artist, exploring surrealism and symbolism in today's world. Adding carpentry to my art, I create built-in frames for a more captivating effect. My inspiration comes from our modern idea of persona, shaped by our social lives as we grow older. The bathroom is my canvas with the "Woman in the Bath" series, where I capture the tranquility of "private thoughts," in a quiet place where our true selves show. Delicate flowers, veiled in a clear translucent liquid, symbolize the persona—fragile, beautiful, and revealing the concealed essence of self. My goal is to give viewers a sigh of relief, letting them connect with the genuine moments of private thoughts—a journey into our identities.