Meet Hanna Jaeun

We were lucky to catch up with Hanna Jaeun recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hanna, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?

Those who know me are aware that I’m not naturally an optimist. However, I like to think of myself that way. I consider myself a pessimistic optimist: I prepare for the worst but love being pleasantly surprised when things turn out well. I view this as a form of optimism. Although it stems from a fear of rejection, I have learned to use it to my advantage. It keeps me moving forward without dwelling too much on my mistakes, though I still do, and helps me manage my expectations. By continuing to push ahead and experience the highs and lows of my artistic journey, I maintain a balance of realism and hope.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am an artist, more specifically a painter, with a focus on dark art and lowbrow art. I primarily work with acrylic paint on wood panels, appreciating the smoothness of the wood that allows for greater detail. My work draws inspiration from the macabre, childhood memories, and my love of animals, exploring themes of alienation, vulnerability, and the yearning to belong.

I feel honored to have exhibited internationally and across the U.S., including at events such as the Beyond Eden Art Fair, SCOPE Art Fair at Miami Basel, and the L.A. Art Show, as well as various galleries. Some current and upcoming group shows include “Starbeast: Encounters from Beyond” at Dark Art Emporium, “Imaginary Menagerie 6” and Aqua Miami with Arch Enemy Arts, and “Everything Hum” at WOWxWOW.com.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Self-discipline, self-motivation, and resilience were most impactful for me. Self-discipline involves staying focused and not getting distracted by life’s many interruptions. Self-motivation requires maintaining a consistent schedule and the habit of working on your work everyday, even when you don’t feel like it. Resilience is key to pushing through tough times and continuing to create even when feedback or sales are not great. It involves adapting to challenges such as rejection, creative blocks, or financial instability. By learning from your failures and getting into the right mindset, you can get through these difficulties and keep moving forward.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

Confidence can be a major obstacle for me. I often find myself questioning whether my work is good enough and feeling that I could have done better. This self-doubt makes it difficult to feel satisfied with my accomplishments, leading me to become overly critical and hesitant to share my work. Building confidence is an ongoing process for me, not just in my work but in all areas of life. I remind myself to keep moving forward and to recognize my strengths, accomplishments, and abilities, even if they seem small.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hannajaeun.com
• Instagram: @hannajaeun
• Facebook: hannajaeunart