Bio
Jo was born in Seoul, Korea, in 1987. Having an interest in learning how people acquire emotion and their patterns of behavior, she studied Educational Psychology at Sookmyung Women’s University. Attending a women’s school also gave a great impact on her feministic perception.
Studying abnormal psychology in university, Jo has been questioning the boundaries between normal and abnormal. In her art, she likes to experiment with what we believe is normal—tradition, universal value, and rational ways of thinking.
Jo immigrated to Canada in 2015. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from OCAD University. Her identity as an immigrant and an Asian female with her interracial marriage life is a major subject matter in her art.
Artist Statement
The relationship between my identity and my new surroundings is one of the most important subject matters in my art. I aim to express my complex identity as an immigrant, a minority, and an Asian female in an interracial marriage. In a marginal position in society, I have been questioning the borders and relations of the in-between. My interest is also in the land and how we reside together on it.
My paintings are mainly inspired by my dreams and memories. In my dreams, my memories of Korea and Canada often blend together. Using my subconscious, I try to navigate the relationship between my Korean identity and Canadian surroundings. Even though dreams are illogical and nonsensical, they help me catch a glimpse of my feelings about the experiences in my new surroundings.
Automatism is the main technique that I follow. I begin painting with some images and colours without planning the whole work in advance. The next step will be accompanied with intuitive decisions. The main material that I use is acrylic and oil. Each applications project fragmented ideas. In my art, objects are depicted very abstractedly and have dreamy looks. My goal is to compose each of the elements in harmony. I believe that not knowing the outcome is key in making the process more fun and enjoyable. This positive attitude toward the uncertainty is revealed in my paintings.
