Artist Eugene Jung ©Forbes Korea
Eugene Jung (b. 1995), a young Korean
sculptor, has been named to the ‘2025 Forbes Asia 30 Under 30’ list. Published
annually by the American media company Forbes, the ‘30 Under 30’ highlights 30
individuals under the age of 30 who are making notable contributions across
various fields.
Earlier this year, Jung was selected for
the ‘Forbes Korea 30 Under 30,’ and has now been chosen as one of the final
honorees in the Arts category from over 4,500 nominees across 20 countries and
regions in the Asia-Pacific. The ‘2025 Forbes Asia 30 Under 30’ list consists
of 300 individuals across 10 different categories.
Eugene Jung,
Two-panel Observatory, 2022, Transparent acrylic and mixed
media, 180x190x90cm, Installation view of 《RUN》 (Museumhead, Seoul, 2022) ©Museumhead. Photo: Sang Tae Kim.
Sculptor Eugene Jung was described as one
of five 'Asian artists to watch' last year by the Art Basel international art
fair. One of the youngest participants in the 2024 Busan Biennale, Jung's
influences include cartoons and anime.
Known for her post-apocalyptic sculptures,
Jung has both a bachelor's and a master's degree in fine arts from Korean
National University of the Arts. The artist has gained recognition through her
solo exhibitions, including 《Boxing Sketch》 (Shimjae Boxing Studio, Seoul, 2024) and 《RUN》 (Museumhead, Seoul, 2022), as well as group exhibitions such as the
2024 Busan Biennale 《Seeing in the Dark》 (Busan, 2024) and 《Nostalgics on Realities》 (Thaddaeus Ropac, Seoul, 2024). She was selected in the "Art
& Photography" category of Dazed 100 Asia in 2024, marking a
significant moment in her recognition as a rising young artist to watch.
Eugene Jung, Earthmovers-lifting,
2024, Plastic sheet, stainless steel, stainless steel hose bands, rust
activator, 273x270x360cm, Installation view of 《Nostalgics on
realities》 (Thaddaeus Ropac, Seoul, 2024) ©Thaddaeus
Ropac
In a previous interview with Forbes Korea,
Eugene Jung stated, "Art ultimately begins with personal experiences and
one’s inner world, but it is also a continuous process of thinking about how
those can connect with the world." She added, "There are so many
events unfolding at once in reality, and some days feel overwhelming—but that’s
when I reflect more deeply on the role art can play."
She further shared, "My long-term
vision is to continue exploring both myself and the world, and to create work
that holds meaning." Her most important goal, she said, is “to grow into
an artist who creates good work.”
