Kyung Jeon EUA, b. 1975
Karnival Aquarium, 2009
Gouache, watercolor, graphite on rice paper on canvas
76 x 76 x 2.5 cm
29 7/8 x 29 7/8 x 1 in
29 7/8 x 29 7/8 x 1 in
© 2009 Kyung Jeon / Courtesy Fundación AMMA
Photo: Alejandro Paez
Further images
A circus wagon serves as an aquarium where mermaids mingle with other aquatic creatures. From the outside, many children seem to be begging their mothers to let them get closer, yet the vehicle's alluring aura is belied by the anguished expressions of figures trying to escape the water and the back-breaking effort of the child hauling the entire load.
Kyung Jeon works primarily with gouache and watercolor. Her distinctive paintings of children in fantastical settings use a seemingly naive aesthetic to express her concerns regarding issues such as social justice, motherhood, and the climate crisis.
Kyung Jeon works primarily with gouache and watercolor. Her distinctive paintings of children in fantastical settings use a seemingly naive aesthetic to express her concerns regarding issues such as social justice, motherhood, and the climate crisis.