The solo exhibition 'Invitation to Neverland' by picture essay artist JIMO (Han Hee-kyung) will be held at Hyundai Department Store from the 18th to the 27th.
Han Hee-kyung, a graduate of the Department of Visual Design at Korea National University of Arts, has worked as an art director at an advertising agency for 20 years, collaborating with numerous brands. Under the more familiar name 'JIMO,' she has communicated with the public through various channels such as picture essays, social media, and exhibitions.
This exhibition presents over 20 paintings centered around the keywords 'happiness' and 'childlike spirit,' showcasing the artist's personal experiences, including childhood memories, daily life with her children, and interactions with her dog, all conveyed with warmth and humor. In particular, the artist's question about what happiness is is expressed through familiar moments of daily life, such as 'the moment of wearing a Chanel jacket,' 'time spent walking with mom,' and 'a night of sleeping without worries,' evoking empathy and smiles.
The exhibition title 'Invitation to Neverland' embodies the meaning of 'a journey back to the happiest times before becoming an adult.' Like the imaginary world in the story of Peter Pan where one never grows up, it is also an invitation from the artist to temporarily set aside reality and embark on a journey to the realm of childlike wonder.
In particular, the artist explains, 'I wanted to frame the question of what happiness is through the lens of the innocent childhood "childlike spirit" without any worries.' While enjoying artworks that capture children's absurd and adorable perspectives, such as 'I will become a dinosaur when I grow up,' 'The moon must really like me, it's following me around,' and 'I'm never sleepy! My eyelids are heavy though,' viewers can recall their own 'happy moments.'
Additionally, fashion items in collaboration with director Jeong Bo-yoon, who is known as the fashion director for Hello Man and a stylist for many K-pop stars, including Lee Hyori, will be showcased. T-shirts and sweatshirts bearing messages such as 'This is NOT CHANEL' regarding luxury items, reinterpreted by the artist, and 'Stay Weird' based on childlike spirit will be available for limited sale during the exhibition.
Han Hee-kyung said, 'Happiness comes not from special events but from small joys in everyday life,' and she hopes that through the exhibition, visitors can discover their own Neverland within their daily lives.