Ram Han

Ram Han's gaze reconciles scenes found in everyday life and images from the media, discovering shared sensations. Her work invites you to a world of imagery derived from both reality and fiction. She is interested in the unfamiliar yet nostalgic images that summon past memories we all carry. She utilizes recurring and regenerated images from the media, applying textures, colors and elements that are consistent with her perception of the world. Ultimately, she hopes her work is seen as a part of a familiar landscape that defies the definition of real or virtual.

람한의 시선은 일상에서 발견하는 이미지와 미디어에서 발견하는 이미지를 동일한 감각으로 인식한다. 현실과 가상을 통해 전달받는 장면들을 구분 없이 한 세계관 속에 나열하는 작업을 해오고 있으며 만나고 싶은, 혹은 만난 적이 없지만, 노스탤지어는 선명한 추억의 장면을 소환하는 것에 관심이 있다. 인터넷 매체를 통해 열화되고 복제되는 출처 무근의 이미지를 끊김 없이 공급받으며  무작위의 이미지들을 필터링 없이 받아들이고, 그 사이에서 세계관에 부합하는 시각적 질감과 색채, 요소들을 재료로써 사용한다. 이로써 그려내는 작업이 현실과 가상의 차원을 무시한 동시대의 익숙한 풍경화로 보이길 바라고 있다.

Korean artist and illustrator Ram Han in front of many vintage television screens displaying her digital paintings 

Korean artist and illustrator Ram Han introduces herself. 

RAM HAN: ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF

It felt natural when I started my career as a painter. Since I was very young, I have loved painting. So I started out painting for fun, which led to me studying painting, and now I work as an artist.

이일을 시작하게 된 거는 되게 자연스러웠던 것 같아요. 어렸을 때 부터 한 두살때 부터 계속 그냥 그림을 놀이처럼 그려왔었고 또 그 놀이를 또 공부로 이어지게 되고 또 계속 직업으로 이제 이어나가게 지금 일까지 오게 된 것 같아요.


As I was entering my 20’s, someone asked me, "Jihea, you're not going to be an artist right?". And that question changed my life. It prompted me to start thinking, “what is an artist?” which eventually evolved into “I want to be an artist.”

20대 중반쯤에 처음 일을 시작하기전 누군가가 저에게 이렇게 물었었어요. '지혜씨는 작가 할거 아니죠?' 라고요. 그 한마디가 그 뒤에 인생을 꽤 많이 바꾼거 같아요. '작가란 뭐지?' 부터 시작해서 '나는 작가가 되고싶어' 라는 결론도 얻었구요.

My twin sister, who is also my best friend, is my biggest influence. From a young age, we would talk about art, paint, and do things together. My family, my husband, and other fellow artists have all been supportive of me in every way.

처음에는

I have definitely evolved throughout the years but when I first started working, I had very little confidence. So I spent a lot of energy seeking validation and gauging other people’s reactions. Now, my art is focused more on personal perspectives and on the things that I want to express.

제가

Artist Ram Han standing against the backdrop of Seoul at night, illuminated in red

South Korean artist, illustrator, and digital painter Ram Han shares her origin story. 

RAM HAN: IN THE BEGINNING

My artwork has been inspired by my dreams, but I focus on the structures of the dream, especially the way the dream narrative is laid out. In dreams, nothing really makes sense, but emotions are present - there is something very unique about dreams and the stories they tell.

꿈 장면 자체에서 직접 영감을 받은적도 있지만, 꿈의 작법을 이용하는것을 좋아해요. 꿈에서 얻은 장면이 아니라, 꿈의 스토리텔링 기법 자체를요. 어딘가 말이 안되지만 감각, 감정 만큼은 확실히 전달되는, 오직 꿈속의 차원에서만 작동하는 이야기를 전달하는 기술이 있다고 생각해요.

I am inspired and stimulated by other artists - I think this is very natural and it always leaves an impact on me. I try to purely focus on my work and all of these influences come naturally in my art pieces, reinterpreted to an extent. I also get inspiration from classical paintings, music, and everything. Even the images from social media, the ones that are regenerated on repeat.

제가

Another person who comes to mind is Hayne Park, the artist of Gloryhole Light Sales. She runs a glass art business and she and I did an exhibition together. We often talk about our concerns as artists.

지금

The people that inspire me the most are mostly fictional and do not exist in real life. It's mostly characters from novels, games, movies etc. I usually get my inspiration from objects that aren’t real, but sometimes old painters inspire me too.

영감을

Artist and illustrator Ram Han drawing on a rooftop with the backdrop of Seoul at night

Artist and illustrator Ram Han talks about what inspires her in art, friends, dreams, and more.

RAM HAN: INSPIRED BY...

A huge challenge I experienced was feeling like no one recognized me or my work. Also, the times when I felt like I wasn’t improving at all despite putting every effort into my work.

제가

I think in most cases, putting more effort and working harder is the answer. So I tend to try to put in a lot more effort when I am feeling unsatisfied with myself, and I try different approaches to see what works.

힘들다고

It’s a cliche to say “do what you want to do" but it is the most realistic piece of advice I can give. I would add to that and say “do the things that you think you want to try” as well. It doesn’t matter if it's something you never tried, and don’t worry about being embarrassed - just try things and do as much as you can.

하고 싶은것을 하라는 말이 뻔한 말이긴한데, 꽤 사실적인 조언이에요. 저는 약간 더 추가해서 '해보고 싶은것' 을 하라고 말하고 싶어요. 잘 모르는 분야라도, 실전에서 배워가면서, 수치심이나 부끄러움을 이겨내고 해보고 싶은 것들을 많이 해보세요.

I think the hardest thing for me to overcome was the voice in my head - my skeptical and pessimistic self bothers me sometimes. I try to move past it by eating foods that I like (like tteokbokki) and having long and deep conversations with the people I enjoy being around.

저를 제일 힘들게 하는것은 내면의 목소리 였던것 같아요. 주기적으로 찾아오는 회의감, 정답이 없는 질문이 종종 저를 괴롭혀요. 그럴때에는 맛있는걸 먹고, (떡볶이라던가) 좋아하는 사람들과 아주 긴 대화를 나누어요.

Artist and illustrator Ram Han in front of retro TVs showing her art, holding a lily flower

Artist and illustrator Ram Han talks about overcoming challenges in her career as an artist as well as offering some advice for aspiring creatives and artists.

RAM HAN: DO WHAT YOU WANT

At first, an idea for a new piece starts with a glimpse of an idea in my head. Various things that inspire me in my daily life are chaotically brought together to form a kind of scene. I start with a rough sketch - the simpler the better as the ambiguity stimulates more varied creative ideas. And then I begin to organize my ideas and focus on the details by adding colors, lines, and so on.

처음에는 머릿속에 아주 짧게 스치는 장면으로 부터 시작해요. 그 장면은 제가 일상에서 얻은 여러가지 자극들이 어지럽게 뭉쳐진 풍경이에요. 가벼운 마음으로 간단한 스케치부터 시작해요. 처음의 스케치는 대충 그리면 그릴수록 좋아요. 대충 그린 선들은 그 모호함 때문에 다양한 상상력을 끌어내거든요. 그리고 그 거친 아이디어를 점점 정리 해 나가고, 정교한 라인워크로, 컬러링으로, 한단계 한단계 넘어가면 돼요.

I tend to do almost everything digitally through a monitor, and I start with a blank canvas in Photoshop before using a tool called Cintiq [a graphic pen tablet by Wacom].

그림을

It’s hard to measure the exact time I put into a given piece because it all varies. Sometimes I paint for 10 hours nonstop. Some work takes days, some work takes a month. I like to complete one piece and then move onto another, but I also sometimes work on many things at the same time. It's always different.

되게

Photo of artist Ram Han's silhouette in front of a blue screen of her artwork

Illustrator and artist Ram Han describes her artistic process.

RAM HAN: FROM IDEA TO COMPLETION

Personal satisfaction is one of the most important aspects for me. It's important to me that I am satisfied with my work, and also whether people can read the messages and the intentions in my artwork. I ask myself if I am satisfied with my work or not, and think about whether or not I am creating something that I love.

개인의

Through my art, I want the audience to experience something that they have never felt, but still is familiar. In a way I want to evoke paradox and empathy through my paintings. Delivering images that are negative but positive, complex but simple, and dream-like.

대중들에게

I want the public to see my painting and say “I recognize this image”. I want to trigger people’s visual memories through my paintings. My ultimate goal is to continue making work that I enjoy, and to show people what I love to create in the purest way.

누군가가

Artist and illustrator Ram Han on a rooftop in Seoul under the moon

Artist and illustrator Ram Han talks about her goals 

RAM HAN: PERSONAL SATISFACTION IS KEY

Creative Direction: Jing Wang and Abi Raymaker
Photography: Abi Raymaker for Jaded

Production: Compound Collective
Director: Ian Jeon
AD: Hang Ah Park
Producer: Hae Chan Ahn
DOP: Daney Kang
Camera Assistant: Yong Jun Kim

Gaffer: Sung Jin Hwang
1st: An Jin Hyuok
2nd: Shim Dae Gyu

VJ: Doyoung Kim
Hair / Make-up Artist: Jihyun Choi
Music: Hexagon by Cifika
BTS Film & Photo: Kyu Tae Park
Studio: Senggi Studio, Manager Jooyoung Jung