▲ Star, Oil on canvas, 90.9x65.1cm, 2022 ⓒ Myung-hak Jo, Gallery J. One

A contemporary artist Myung-hak Jo holds his solo exhibition, 'Free' at Gallery J. One in Daegu.

Jo is an artist who draws images of ideals and reality in his style with dreamy and mysterious painting styles. He uses the anthropomorphic bird figure to express the freedom and ideals that the artist has longed for since childhood. 

▲ 성장, Oil on canvas, 53x40.9cm, 2022 ⓒ Myung-hak Jo, Gallery J. One

The anthropomorphic bird in the artist's work raises the question of 'what is true freedom?'. He considers his childhood memories of being happy and having fun without anything special to do and his life as an adult which is the opposite.

Jo once thought that the joy of escaping oppression was one of freedom. However, he realized that fear also comes when humans deviate from the framework of oppression that they become accustomed to. Although it is difficult to give an absolute answer through anguish, he creates it as a means of a journey to find freedom within a framework.

▲ Rainbow, Oil on canvas, 72.7x53cm, 2022 ⓒ Myung-hak Jo, Gallery J. One

An exhibition official said, "Jo created the artwork using a personified bird that resembles free and diverse imaginations." and added, "It will be a good experience to examine the identity of the artworks while looking at the various birds in the painting."

The exhibition will be held at Gallery J. One on Daegu until the 23rd.

▲ Dream, Oil on canvas, 53x45.9cm, 2022 ⓒ Myung-hak Jo, Gallery J. One

Sayart / Nao Yim, yimnao@naver.com