Jung Jong-Mee Biography

Jung Jong Mee firmly believed in the untapped potential of women and their innate ability to contribute harmoniously alongside men. Motivated by this belief, she channeled her artistic expression into depicting women using hanji, a material that perfectly encapsulated the qualities she associated with Korean women - a remarkable blend of resilience and tenderness. The traditional Korean paper possessed a unique combination of durability and softness, mirroring the characteristics she admired in the women around her.

In her artworks, Jung Jong Mee particularly focused on depicting Korean mothers who, despite their exhausting daily routines, would tirelessly work late into the night. Under the gentle glow of a lantern, they would meticulously thread needles with vibrant colored threads, weaving intricate patterns on cloths adorned with the five directional colors. These exquisite cloths were intended to be used as elegant wrapping materials, symbolizing the transformative power of these women who embodied hope and dedication. Stitch by stitch, they poured their passion into delicate embroidery, creating the most beautiful and refined garments. Through series such as "Mrs. Paper Women" and "Wrapping Cloth Women," Jung Jong Mee pays homage to these exceptional women, creating scrolled memorials that honor and cherish the legacy of our mothers.

Until 2021, Jung Jong Mee held the esteemed position of Professor at the Department of Fine Art in Korea University. Her remarkable artistic contributions have been acknowledged with prestigious awards, including the Lee Insung Award in 2012 and the Lee Jungseob Award in 2001. Notably, her works have been sought after by esteemed institutions such as the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul Museum of Art, Korea University Museum, and Seoul National University, where they are proudly showcased in their collections.

EDUCATION

1980 Seoul National University, Department of painting

1984 Master's degree, Seoul National University, Department of Korean Painting

1995 School of Parsons in New York

Dieu Donne Paper Mill & Printmaking Workshop New York

AWARD

2001 The 13^th Lee-Jungseob Award

2012 The 13^th Lee-Insung Award

EXHIBITION

2023 Asia Now Paris, The Columns Gallery, France

2023 Jung Jongmee Solo Exhibition, The Columns Gallery, Singapore

2023 Tokyo Gendai, The Columns Gallery, Yokohama, Japan

2023 The New Peach Garden, Woljeon Museum, Icheon

2022 Mentor and Mentee, Hanwon Museum of Art, Seoul

2021 Mentor and Mentee, Hanwon Museum of Art, Seoul

2020.04 Portrait, Figure and People, Gallery Hyundai, Seoul

2020 The Great Epics, Daegu Art Museum

2017.02 the 21th Solo Exhibition, Dedicado a la Feminidad

2014.02 The 20^th Solo Exhibition, Korea University Museum, Seoul

2014 Birth of a New Taste for the Arts, Seoul Arts Center, Seoul

2013 AMMA, UMMA!, India International Center, India

2013 History & Heritage, Korea University Museum, Korea

2012.06 the 18^th Solo Exhibition, From Women To Women, Madrid

2009.02 The 15^th Solo Exhibition, Keumho Museum, Seoul

2007.04 Korean Art 1953-2007, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul

2006.06 100 years of Korean Art, MMCA, Guacheon

2002.04 Infinite Change, Gana Art Center, Seoul

2001.09 The 6^th Solo Exhibition, Keumho Museum, Seoul

2000 Echo Feminism, NASH gallery, Minesota, USA

1991.09 The 1^st Solo Exhibition, Ja.Yeon.In, baegak Museum, Seoul

1990 Young Korean Artists, MMCA, Guacheon

COLLECTION

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art

Seoul Museum of Art, Busan Museum of Art

Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art

Leeum Samsumg Museum of Art

Kumho Museum of Art, Korea University Museum

Park Sugeun Museum, Seoul National University