DaeJun Shin

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신대준(b1984, Republic of Korea)

Dae-Jun Shin is a painter who explores the emotional distance between childhood memories and the realities of adulthood through quiet, narrative-driven scenes. His paintings frequently feature a barefoot boy accompanied by animals such as a red elephant and a blue cat. Set within tranquil landscapes that seem detached from ordinary reality, these figures walk together, lean on one another, and exchange silent glances. Although the imagery originates from fragments of the artist’s own memories, the works move beyond personal recollection to evoke the emotions and sensations of childhood that remain within many of us.

The boy in Shin’s paintings represents both a childhood self and another presence through which the artist reflects on his current life. With his eyes closed and his attention turned away from the noise of the outside world, the boy enters an inner space shared with his animal companions. The red elephant and blue cat are not merely fairy-tale characters, but psychological companions that remain beside him through the uncertainties of life. Through gestures of meeting, walking together, watching, and leaning on one another, these figures quietly exchange emotional support and reassurance.

Shin’s landscapes exist somewhere between reality, memory, and imagination. Moonlight, dry trees, wind, and starlit skies create a sense of distance from ordinary time, blurring the boundary between past and present. The artist gathers fragments of memory—old photographs, storybooks, childhood games, familiar places—and reconstructs them into new narratives. In this sense, his paintings resemble fairy tales for adults, offering a space in which viewers can pause and reconnect with emotions that may have been forgotten over time.

For Shin, the past is not an idealized place of escape from the present. Rather, it functions as an emotional refuge that allows one to momentarily slow down and return to oneself. Through the quiet companionship between the boy and the animals, his works invite viewers to step away from the demands of the outside world, listen inwardly, and rediscover the moments of rest and reflection that remain essential to life.

Education

M.F.A. in Western Painting, Graduate School, Pusan National University, Korea

B.F.A. in Industrial Design, Dong-A University, Korea

Solo Exhibitions

2024 To Find You, Kidari Gallery, Korea

2023 One Small Step, Kidari Gallery, Korea

2021 다시 만난 세계, Kidari Gallery, Korea

2019 Little Forest, BS Busan Bank Gallery, Korea

2019 Little Forest, Kidari Gallery, Korea

2018 바람이 불어오는 곳, Art DOT, Korea

2017 Stay Here, Kidari Gallery, Korea

2016 Shin Dae-Jun Solo Exhibition, Chunja Gallery, Korea