the island Painting

**2nd Prize Winner in the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, RAYMAR Traditional Art Award** Haejin Yoo, is a self-taught acrylic artist born in Seoul, South Korea, but grew up in Australia who creates surrealistic expressionist art to evoke past and present emotions. In her artistic exploration, Haejin extends beyond the canvas, integrating mixed media such as acrylics, textiles, carpentry, and spray paint. Her intention is to breathe life into the image, surpassing the constraints of a flat surface. Whether painting onto the frame itself or infusing various materials, each element contributes to the illusion of her surreal expressions. Haejin's artistic passion was discovered at a young age but was suppressed until her late twenties. Following an early career in the sciences has allowed Haejin to apply her skills towards a greater understanding of acrylics and other artistic mediums. She now lives in Cologne, Germany, where she exhibits her work across Europe. Haejin's achievements include: - winning 2nd Prize in the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, RAYMAR Traditional Art Award for 'Woman in the Bath VI'. - selected as one of Saatchi Art's Rising Stars for 2024 - chosen as a Finalist for the Boyne's Artist Award 10th Edition in 2024 - winning the Merit Prize Award from Teravarna's International Juried Art Competition (2023) - winning the Artist Expert Award (2022) presented by renowned art critic, Prof. Vittorio Sgarbi., and - winning 1st Prize Abstract Award at FIRA International Art Fair Barcelona 2022. Notably, 'Woman in the Bath III' was selected to be the main artwork to promote The Other Art Fair London 2024, being displayed on exhibition collateral and a large 3+ metre banner in the heart of London. Haejin has also been featured by Artfinder and Saatchi Art on several occasions, and has exhibited at The Other Art Fair London and Los Angeles in 2023. ARTIST STATEMENT I'm Haejin Yoo, a self-taught acrylic artist, exploring surrealism and symbolism in today's world. Adding carpentry to my art, I create built-in frames for a more captivating effect. My inspiration comes from our modern idea of persona, shaped by our social lives as we grow older. The bathroom is my canvas with the "Woman in the Bath" series, where I capture the tranquility of "private thoughts," in a quiet place where our true selves show.