Yiji Jeong, Terminal, 2019, Oil on canvas, 37.9x37.9cm ©Yiji Jeong

In her paintings, Yiji Jeong expresses fragments of past memories and experiences—those trivial yet quietly beautiful moments that often pass by unnoticed. Since she paints scenes from her immediate surroundings, young women of her own generation frequently appear in her works. However, the artist is cautious not to let these figures be misunderstood as simply celebrating beauty or youth itself. Her true intention lies in capturing and expressing the atmosphere and emotions tied to personally meaningful situations, rather than focusing on the beauty of the young female figures per se.

When selecting photographic references for her paintings, Jeong prioritizes images where the overall atmosphere of the scene conveys beauty, rather than focusing on the specific appearance of the subject. During the process of cropping these scenes, she carefully distinguishes the essential components she needs for her work from elements that serve merely decorative purposes.

Even when depicting a figure, the artist strives to maintain the subject’s unique impression without letting descriptive details of their appearance dominate the painting. She explains that, in her coloring process, she gives utmost consideration to the harmony between the figure and the surrounding space, ensuring that neither overwhelms the other.

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