Meet Jeong Hur | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeong Hur and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeong, why did you pursue a creative career?
I am still figuring out why I am pursuing my career in the art field. I am not yet at the stage where I can explain the reason clearly, but through the conversation with my ex-counselor, I could get a clue why I want to keep my career as an artist.

Creativity is addictive. My artistic journey is like seeing shiny but blurry light in the haze. I have a pretty clear goal, but I never know how to get there. There are no guides to get there. But if I kept walking, at some point, I could see the light; clearly, even it goes away quickly. And the incomparable catharsis and pleasure of this experience coming. This fascinating experience is keeping me walking to experience this again.

Every single artist has a unique path. And I am also on the way to discover mine. Experiencing catharsis by creating motivates me dream bigger and move foward.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I started my artistic career as a graphic design student. And through interactive media, performance, and painting, I believe my identity as an artist began with photography.

But now, I call myself an artist who uses photographic media, not just a photographer. I have more interested in exploring the possibility of photographic images, not just photography itself.

In the past, people captured their memories through photos on film. And those memories and appreciation have changed like film photos that change color over time. There’s now an unprecedented flood of never-fading photographic images from our phones and the social media boom. Like a faded childhood photo album, the role of a photo image as a channel that connects people to memories seems to have changed a little.

I believe the essence of the image is connecting the audience’s perspective to their memories and evoking emotion. Seeing photos makes people think of their memories, whether hard times or happy. However, the image cannot produce the same sentiment as intense as people felt at the time. In my practice, I want to rekindle those fierce feelings.

My photographic image is a catalyst to generate and share changing memories. From analog to digital, including chemical reactions in the darkroom, digital collages, AI images, and 3D photo sculptures, my photographic ‘things’ in various forms communicates with my thoughts and memories. And when they start talking with other people, my ‘things’ begin to affect other people’s minds beyond mine.

Re-defining the definition of photography is challenging, especially these days. Creating something between a traditional concept and a new theme is challenging in the transition era. However, I believe I am creating and thinking of something valuable and what people need these days.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite spot in the city is always my home. I apology if it is a boring answer. However, for me, my place is the place to think profoundly and digest the experience from outside.

I spend at least 10 hours outside per day. And I get a crazy amount of overflowing information and experience from outside. Some familiar things are easy to understand, but the challenge is always “NEW.” I don’t want to let go these “New” things I experienced. After I get back to my home, I rewind what happened today, and trying to understand the “New” things until they become familiar.

Understanding the outside of the world and digesting is an essential process to me. Therefore, I am confident to communicate with the world around me through my visual language.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

Dr. Kwon, my former counselor, helped me understand myself. Working with her helped me find inner peace and cleared my work’s life-long theme.

After several years of long conversations with Dr. Kwon, I could build up my story and work.

Website: https://jeonghur.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeong.h.something/