Anna Jung Seo

Anna Jung Seo’s (b. 1964) artistic practice centers on the reconstruction of scenes, drawing heavily from literary imagination. Through a process of transformation, Seo converts the tangible urban landscape into a stage where exaggeration and metaphor interweave. This approach allows her to explore the nuances of perception and memory, inviting viewers to engage with her interpretations of reality.

The new paintings present us with intimately drawn scenes and observations, dimly and dramatically lit. Whereas her previous series focused more on daily reflections of her native Seoul or London, where she lives and works, the scenes and images in this exhibition are stimulated by literary inspirations—including Arthur Rimbaud’s poem (The Drunken Boat) and the novels of Roberto Bolaño. These works directly reflect Jung Seo’s early education and training in French literature, as well as her enduring interest in the power of storytelling.

Seo received a PhD in French Literature from Yonsei University, Seoul (1999) and graduated from the Turps Studio Programme, Turps Art School (2017) and the City & Guilds of London Art School (2011).

Curated by Augusto Arbizo / Schwartzman&, New York.