Juwon Seo

As a child I always enjoyed creating art. I used to create creatures out of pipe-cleaners or folded paper to entertain myself, turning my childhood imagination into a physical form that I could interact with. This is the same approach that I take in my current work, using my imagination to create fantastical creatures. My work involves a fascination with the natural world, science, and mythical beasts. I am especially interested in the creation of these mythical beasts because they allow me absolute freedom and control, and I’m not constrained by practical considerations about anatomy and function. To fuel my creativity, I look to nature and science as my main source of inspiration. A grounding in science gives my work more depth and it’s possible to imagine my creations as real instead of fiction. This basis in reality gives people a frame of reference and allows people to recognize and understand the work much easier. Creating this body of work is very liberating. In a world that is very restricted I am obliged to do what others say. Having a way to express myself helps me cope with this idea. In a way, my work embodies the idea of creative freedom.