Jinsung PARK solo exhibition 〈MISTER〉 (박진성 b.1982-)

Jinsung PARK solo exhibition 〈MISTER〉 (박진성 b.1982-)

A being who represents an "anonymous adult" who may be someone's father, husband, or himself. Jinsung PARK intended to capture the inner world of unpretentious, artless adults through the peculiar character created by adding wrinkles and a light mustache to a child’s face. He expresses the repressed emotions that have been built up in his heart through the image of a tearful figure, and tries to convey a message of happiness through various facial expressions and situational descriptions.
"I believe I could be truly happy when I disclose my true self without sticking to the trappings of adulthood. Thus, I’d like to define every tear in my works as an act for happiness."
Jinsung PARK, an artist whose characters seem unfamiliar yet strangely familiar, encapsulates the most primitive yet human emotions in contemporary self-portraits. His works, portraying adult stories within the guise of children, resonate with viewers on a fundamental level. While his earlier works predominantly featured figures expressing various emotions through tear-filled eyes, recently, a variety of objects have emerged within the same context. Beyond the portrayal of emotions represented by a single tear, objects such as the 'Blue Bird' conveying messages of happiness, the 'Pink Lump' symbolizing maternal love and femininity, and the 'Balloon' representing stories suppressed within the heart, have been utilized with visually rich effects to provide 'comfort' and 'solace'. More recently, a new character has emerged, depicted as an 'old man' chronicling life through the object of a 'book'. Stemming from the 'story' of the main character often seen in Park's works, these creations extend beyond representing the artist's life to encompass the stories of all contemporary individuals. As civilization advances, human encounters and emotions become increasingly complex and diverse. Alongside rational judgments driven by logical thinking, the importance of intuition and instinct-based emotions and sensibilities has been consistently emphasized. Yet, despite this, we still often find ourselves building emotional barriers, unable to express genuine feelings, trapped within societal norms and the facade of adulthood. The artist suggests that every tear shed in his works is not necessarily one of sorrow but rather a preparation for happiness. He believes that true happiness comes when one momentarily sets aside adulthood and reveals their sincere self. This belief underscores the genuine necessity of Jinsung PARK's artworks in modern society.