Seungjae Park

Utopian Moment

Jae is a New York-based painter from South Korea whose work explores the coexistence of contradictions—abstraction and figuration, digital and traditional techniques, structure and spontaneity—capturing fleeting utopian moments in an era of technological acceleration.

Rather than depicting a fixed ideal, Jae’s paintings construct layered spaces where different visual languages intertwine. Through the interplay of vibrant and muted tones, fluid and sharp forms, completion and fragmentation, Jae reimagines identity and perception as fluid, ever-evolving constructs. Their process, which begins with digital collage and transforms into textured, physical compositions, dissolves the boundary between material and immaterial, reflecting the fragmented, nonlinear ways we experience the world.

Can we capture utopian moments within the contradictions of reality?
Where are such possibilities hidden?
In the era of fragmented narratives and relative truths, I imagine where utopian moments can emerge within reality. Through a postmodern lens, my paintings reflect the idea that joy, humor, and connection persist even within chaos and contradiction. These fleeting, imperfect utopias take shape in layered compositions, where multiple perspectives coexist, clash, and intertwine. Rather than depicting an idealized world, I seek out the spaces where utopia momentarily surfaces which are unexpected, unstable, but undeniably present.

Living in a constantly shifting contemporary society, my work seeks to capture the fluidity of perception and experience. I aim to layer disparate elements on a single canvas in a convincing way, not to tell a singular story, but to create a space where contradictions clash yet find balance. My work reflects the fragmented, nonlinear ways we experience the world. Each element retains its autonomy, but in relation to others, new and unexpected tension, rhythm, and narratives arise. This process reflects the postmodern deconstruction of boundaries and mirrors how identity and recognition are constantly reshaped within contemporary society.

My approach is fluid and intuitive. I begin with freehand sketches, layering forms and colors while continuously experimenting with compositions by collaging digital images through digital tools. Through this process, the boundaries between material and immaterial, traditional painting techniques and contemporary image-making dissolve. Through the physical medium of paint, I translate digital collage images into a sensory experience, blurring the line between material and immaterial as elements collapse apart and reconstruct in new layered forms.

The utopia I imagined is not a fixed definitive ideal but a dynamic state of perpetual change and interaction. The canvas becomes a space for experimentation, allowing viewers to connect fragments in their own way and generate new meanings.