Korea, b. 1984

Annette Hur (b. 1984-) explores the unconscious manipulation and subversion of female sexuality within culture through her large-scale oil paintings and abstraction of Korean silk fabric. The artist gained attention in the art world after being invited to the 'KingWoman' special exhibition at the Urban Zen Center by Donna Karan in New York in March 2019. The exhibition, commemorating International Women's Day, aimed to raise awareness of the importance of women, and Heo's works drew attention by reflecting her experiences and emotions in her pieces. She focused on expressing her experiences of patriarchal environments, domestic violence, depression, and efforts to overcome them through her art. The excessively abstracted forms mimic the body, organs, and surface wounds, creating tension around everyday violence in the surroundings. While the overall imagery is abstract, she narrates stories of bodily experiences exposed to unsafe environments such as fingers, wounds, and vomiting within her works. Choosing a method of expression that transforms vulnerability into strength and acceptance into resistance, Heo continues her active artistic endeavors with numerous solo exhibitions.