January 18, 2023
Yang Hyun Jun, the artist who has managed to turn his mother into an eternal child
Paula Latiegui

Artist Yang Hiun Jun creates a parallel universe in which his mother is constantly a child who enjoys being free instead of working in a market.

Who has not spent hours thinking about what his mother would be like at his age, to what extent they would resemble each other and even if they would be friends or on the contrary could not even see each other. Yang Hyun Jun is not content to ask himself this question sitting on the sofa, but has spent years creating a parallel universe in which the passage of time does not exist and his mother does not work at the market but lives in complete freedom and fun.

Yang Hiun Jun "Adult Child-(Together-ll)", 2020. Acrylic on Korean paper. 91x72cm. Photo: Jeeum Gallery
He has spent years creating a parallel universe in which the passage of time does not exist and his mother does not work at the market but lives in full freedom and fun

This imaginary world was born out of the artist's need to be grateful for the role his mother has played in his life, always showing him the most sincere care and kindness despite the fact that there was no father figure who fulfilled these qualities. That is why Hyun Jun is not content to simply portray his mother, but wishes to inhabit his creation with her, and does so in the form of an animal. Thus symbolising the protection and security he feels at her side.

Yang Hiun Jun "We are connected I", 2022. Acrylic on Korean paper27 3/5 × 39 2/5 in. Photo: Jeeum Gallery

Even when they are in separate spaces, the artist manages to find a way to unite them. We can see this in his two paintings: Adult Child - We are connected I, 2022 where we see a girl running and laughing through a meadow that covers her waist and Adult Child - We are connected II, 2022 where the same scene is recreated but this time the protagonist is a bear. We know that they are connected because a red thread comes out of their belly and crosses the borders of the painting, which we can relate to the umbilical cord, that channel of exchange between mother and foetus, this time what is exchanged is love.

Yang Hiun Jun "We are connected II", 2022. Acrylic on Korean paper27 3/5 × 39 2/5 in. Photo: Jeeum Gallery
His work can currently be found at the Noblesse Collection in collaboration with Villazan
work on display at noblesse collection: Yang Hiun Jun “Adult Child (3D-Charizard)”2022. Acrylic on korean paper. 104 x 177 cm. Photo: Noblesse Collection

Yang Hiun Jun is an artist born in 1974, based in South Korea. He has been working on his series 'Adult Child' since 2013, a project focused on the importance of the family for humanity itself. His work can currently be found at the Noblesse Collection in collaboration with Villazan.