Won Seoung Won

Whilst being a student at the Art Academy of Düsseldorf (M.F.A. 2002) Won Seoung Won received a lot of attention for her series: My favourite room (Wunschzimmer, 2000-2002). Her works consist of numerous motifs of mostly vivid colours combined with the compositions of old masters. This results in a whimsical mixture of European art and her child-like and magical perspective which points to desire, obsession and the past.

During an interview with the contemporary Korean Art Association Art Museum she confessed having suffered from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and subsequently from lack of concentration as a child. She compensated by exaggerated story-telling and doodling. This was overall therapeutic and she managed to tell her surroundings – including her mother – her inner thoughts and feelings.

At a first glance Won Seoung Won’s works seem mainly to have a narrative and aesthetic quality, thus making a difficult situation paradisiacal. Autobiographic elements are the starting point of her photo series. She continuously pursues the quizzical composition of the image which is steadily accompanied by the development of symbols.

(Text by Jung Me Chai)