Jinwon Chang
Video for Venice Biennale Architettura 2021
Artwork on display at San Clemente Palace Kempinski, Venice
Artist Statement
Jinwon Chang is a Korean artist who studied Korean Traditional Painting in South Korea and moved to New York in 2004. Jinwon Chang’s works focus on life and God using art to grasp the concepts of invisibility and the spiritual world. He uses art as a tool to overcome his confusion on things he cannot see, and as a starting point for understanding and telling the stories of his personal struggles and triumphs in regard to his faith. As he continues his pursuit of ultimate truth, he creates all of his pieces with the underlying idea that his works are not his own, but rather pieces of truth that are translated through his being. In this way, he views himself more as a vessel than the creator and believes that art is one of the most effective methods of sharing eternal truth with others. For Chang, art is just as much a matter of listening and suppressing as it is a matter of speaking and self-expressing.
Jinwon Chang uses a unique material, Hanji - a Korean traditional paper that is made by stacking fibers from paper mulberry. Hanji is made with a technique called Webal that dates back as early as 3rd-century C.E. The Webal technique spreads the fibers more evenly resulting in a paper that does not have a specific grain direction.
The artist chooses to use Hanji as he finds a resemblance between himself and the Hanji. Hanji has a duality in its material property for it can easily be ripped with strong brushing or excess water, but due to its fibers, can be preserved for thousands of years. Seeing Hanji that perseveres even through the rough actions of brushing ink and coloring, the artist finds hope in his weakness. Expressing himself on such a medium is his way of constantly facing and conversing with his inner being and searching for the truth.
Jinwon Chang’s Inbetween Series was inspired while meditating Genesis 1:2, on the Light of truth that drives out all darkness. This series reflects the artist’s agony over how to find the Light of the truth that leads to life and brightens the innermost parts of a man despite the dark and desert-like reality. The golden sparkles that splash and flow like water from the golden chandelier represent the life that triumphs over darkness. Only the true Light will drive out the darkness that is delusional. The artist sends a message of hope during these unpredictable and dark times caused by COVID- 19: that those who search and unite with the Light will find the spiritual lighthouse for their souls.
Featured Artwork
Eternal Beauty 6, 2016
Korean ink, acrylic, pencil, color pen on Korean traditional paper
45H x 45W in
Inbetween 20P4, 2020
Korean ink, metallic paint, acrylic, metallic pen and pencil on Hanji (Korean Traditional Paper)
81H x 77W in
Inbetween 20P5, 2020
Korean ink, metallic paint, acrylic, metallic pen, and pencil on Hanji (Korean traditional paper)
81H x 77W in
Hovering 3, 2016
Korean ink, acrylic, pencil, and color pen on Korean traditional paper
45.5H x 60W in (framed)
