Artist Jeon Ok-hee, who has served as a bridge for diplomatic relations between Korea and Brazil, will hold her 18th solo exhibition, 'Journey of Light (From Korea to Brazil)' at Sowol Gallery in Seoul's Seongdong District from August 25th to 30th. This exhibition will feature 20 works that combine traditional Korean sensibilities with the dynamic life of Brazil, offering a chance to reflect on the meaning of cultural exchange between the two countries.
Jeon Ok-hee is actively creating art while traveling between Korea and Brazil. By capturing the simple landscapes of rural Brazil and the pure-hearted people who live there, she has made significant contributions to fostering friendship between the two nations.
A defining characteristic of her work is its ability to portray human innocence and naturalness in a simple, bright, and warm manner. The vibrant colors and dynamic energy of Brazil merge with the formative elements and emotions of traditional Korean painting to create a unique artistic expression. The colorful and sensual palette serves as a medium that visually embodies the distinct emotions and beauty of two different cultures. This creates a harmony between the two worlds—Korea and Brazil—within a single canvas, suggesting the possibility of communication and understanding through art.
"This exhibition was planned to commemorate diplomatic relations between Korea and Brazil and to highlight the beauty of both cultures," Jeon said. She added, "I have translated the deep inspiration I received from Brazil's nature and people into a Korean aesthetic sensibility. I hope these works will help Korea and Brazil understand and communicate with each other more deeply."
Artistic World: The Innocence of Humanity and the Beauty of Nature
Jeon Ok-hee's artistic world captures the innocence and naturalness of humanity in a simple and bright way. By adding Korean colors to Brazilian landscapes, she creates a unique artistic expression that brings warmth and comfort to viewers. Her paintings can be broadly categorized into four types: 'BAHIA Women,' 'Children,' 'Rural Landscapes,' and 'Rural Life.'
BAHIA Women: These works portray women from the Bahia region of northeastern Brazil in a simple yet distinctive style. Through a minimalist and original approach, she captures the ordinary, leisurely, and humanistic moments of their lives.
Children: These paintings depict the pure and innocent faces of children in their daily lives. In her works featuring children, she boldly simplifies the surrounding scenery to focus on the children at play.
Rural Landscapes: These pieces express the pristine nature of rural Brazil in a bright, peaceful, and cozy manner, giving viewers a sense of comfort and richness like that of their hometowns. They are characterized by a cheerful style that uses a variety of bright colors.
Rural Life: These paintings express the lyrical and humanistic aspects of life, where the reality of existence breathes within the natural and leisurely scenes of rural Brazil. By delicately and warmly capturing human innocence and the naturalness of the landscape, she creates a unique artistic expression that adds a touch of Korean color to the Brazilian scenes, leaving a lasting feeling of deep warmth.
Major Career and Award History
Artist Jeon Ok-hee is an invited artist of the Korea Academy of Fine Arts Association and a member of the Korean Artists Association in Brazil. She also served as an executive for the KOWIN (Korean Women's International Network) Brazil chapter, working to foster exchange between Korea and Brazil.
Major Exhibitions: From 2010 to 2023, she held numerous group and solo exhibitions, including those organized by the Korean Artists Association in Brazil, exhibitions commemorating the 60th and 70th anniversaries of Korea's liberation, and a solo exhibition for the Brazil Olympics. Notably, in 2019, she held solo exhibitions at the embassies of both countries to celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Brazil. In 2021, she also engaged in public art activities, such as painting a mural in a Brazilian Koreatown.
Major Awards: From 2012 to 2018, she received numerous awards, including the Special Prize, Encouragement Prize, Excellence Prize, Grand Prize (Seoul Mayor’s Award), and Invited Artist Award at competitions such as the Korea Academy of Fine Arts Competition, Korea Art Contest, and Korea Love of Country Art Contest. In 2023, she was honored with the Presidential Award for her contributions to promoting cultural exchange between Korea and Brazil.
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