YOUNGJAE OH 'Engraving Luck'

Artist Oh Young-jae graduated with a Master's degree in Computer Art from New York University after studying Western painting at Seoul National University. During the 1980s, she specialized in computer art and pioneered a new form of work by applying Western painting techniques to computers. All of her works embody the artist’s philosophical thoughts and understanding, expressed uniquely through her own methods or techniques.

Oh Young-jae’s work, which turns primitive art motifs such as talismans into typographic elements, features traditional themes while utilizing modern art forms with computer monitors instead of paint and canvas. Talismans are a familiar motif in Korean traditional folk paintings, where our ancestors traditionally included various characters representing wishes and prayers, repeatedly drawn on these talismans.

Looking at the Lascaux cave paintings, which represent primitive art, one can find drawings of cattle and sheep on the walls, made to wish for successful hunting. In Egyptian art, the coexistence of characters and images makes the interpretation through the ages more liberal and intriguing. The influence of primitive art continues unabated into the 20th century.

Picasso, for instance, showcased techniques of primitive art in her work "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon." Oh Young-jae selects the most ancient primitive materials and combines them with cutting-edge techniques to convey a message that transcends time and space.

Whether in the past, present, or future, our origin seeks the 'blessing' of peace. The character for 'blessing' (福) is created and painted by Oh Young-jae in various typographic forms. The diversity of colors and characters within her works might represent the different shapes of luck that each of us draws in our daily lives.

Through her artwork, Oh Young-jae hopes to share the wishes and blessings of fortune that accompany our life's journey, inviting our hearts to resonate within her creations.