Eunsi Jo

Eunsi Jo’s paintings unfold like meticulously constructed codes and riddles. Through the use of symbols, signs, and diagrammatic forms, she visualizes complex narratives about the relationships between individuals and collectives, parts and wholes. The artist focuses on the ‘irresistible structures’ of the world—such as family, the food chain, and natural disasters—that cannot be controlled by human will, as well as on the principle of ‘resemblance.’ “In contemporary society,” she notes, “we exist both as integral individuals and as parts of a larger whole.” Her practice probes the meaning of being within this web of interdependence.

Eunsi Jo studied Western painting at Ewha Womans University, where she is currently pursuing her master’s degree. She was selected for the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture’s Young Artist Support Program and was named one of ‘Almanac: 50 Contemporary Korean Artists’ by Artifacts, marking her as an emerging artist whose future activities are highly anticipated.

Her working methodology is conceptual and meticulous. She explains that “over 90 percent of the process is spent constructing ideas rather than painting,” emphasizing the importance of the underlying logic and narrative embedded behind each canvas. As a result, her works often resemble a ‘collection of short stories’—dense and layered, and not easily deciphered without context. Every iconographic element and compositional division within her paintings is imbued with intentional meaning.

The artist candidly states that “the greatest driving force behind my work is ‘enjoyment.’” She adds, “I feel most satisfied when I fill my paintings with symbols and metaphors that only I understand, like secret stories.” This sense of joy in the act of creation gives her the strength to overcome the challenges of balancing artistic practice with everyday life, and allows her to continue working with persistence.

For this year’s Kiaf, Eunsi Jo presents a new series entitled ‘Brothers on the Ground ‘and ‘Brothers in the Ground,’ inspired by the visual layout of a keyboard. Using images such as eggs in a shared nest and beans underground, she constructs a meditation on the ‘parts that compose a whole.’ “I hope the relationships formed by the images in my work encourage viewers to reflect on their own sense of existence,” she states. Enigmatic and symbol-laden, her paintings offer each viewer a different set of questions—inviting contemplation through visual inquiry.

Scallywag, Oil on panel, 80.0 x 120.0 x 30.0 cm, 2023