Jieun June Kim
The streets of Toronto, Canada—often considered one of the most multicultural cities in the world—are like a giant canvas where the languages and memories of countless immigrants intertwine. Upon the surfaces of this colorful city, Korean-Canadian visual artist Jieun June Kim is tracing a uniquely radiant and warm trajectory. The reason her work captures the attention and hearts of so many isn't simply due to its vibrant colors. Rather, she breathes life into invisible spaces easily erased by the logic of urban development—marginal spaces like old houses facing demolition or garbage disposal areas in the back alleys of markets. By infusing intense colors and meaning into these ephemeral places that others might pass by without a second glance, her work holds a magical power that transforms "places to pass through" into "places to stay and find comfort."
Motifs like tigers, birds, planets, and the universe frequently appear in her murals. This closely aligns with the style of traditional Korean folk painting (Minhwa). If one were to define her work in a single phrase, it would be "Neo-Minhwa embracing the modern city." Just as traditional Korean Minhwa served as a warm talisman in the daily lives of ordinary people—warding off evil spirits and wishing them good fortune—Jieun June Kim's murals are a gentle message of protection extended to the everyday citizens and immigrants navigating the multicultural city. In that sense, if she were to be given an artistic moniker, "The Friendly Tiger on the Street" would be perfectly fitting. In Korean culture, the tiger has long been a spiritual, steadfast guardian that wards off misfortune. She also works as a tattooist under the name "Horang Ink" (Tiger Ink). Etching each person's unique story alongside a fiercely protective guardian into their skin, extending her art beyond canvases and walls, she resembles a friendly and mystical tiger protecting and embracing its neighbors in the heart of a cold city.