South Korean artist Jinjoo Jo’s illustrations walk a fine line between cuteness and discomfort, innocence and harm. Her series, “Blue Anger,” which she began in 2020, features young girls interacting with insects that are unnervingly large and imposing. Jo explains that she uses insects as a metaphor for predators, with the young girls in the illustrations surrounded by swarms of insects, symbolizing their suffering and vulnerability.
The inspiration for “Blue Anger” came in response to the Nth Room case, a cybersex crime that shocked South Korea between 2018 and 2020. This case involved the sexual exploitation of at least 70 underage victims, leaving Jo overwhelmed with anger and despair. Through her artwork, Jo channels these emotions, creating a tribute to the young people who were victimized.
Despite the dark themes, Jo’s recent works diverge from the predator-prey dynamic, showing the young girls in control as they interact with insects in a more harmonious way. Her illustrations, rendered in black, white, and cerulean blue, depict scenes where the girls commune with larger-than-life moths or coexist peacefully with fluttering insects.
Using colored pencils, graphite, and occasionally black ballpoint pens, Jo creates her intricate illustrations before digitizing them with Procreate and Photoshop. Her unique style and attention to detail bring her characters to life, evoking a sense of wonder and introspection in the viewer.
In addition to her “Blue Anger” series, Jo is also working on a graphic novel related to ongoing scientific research and an essay about her experiences of pregnancy. These projects showcase her versatility as an artist and her ability to explore a wide range of themes and topics through her distinctive visual language.
To see more of Jinjoo Jo’s work, visit her website and Instagram profile. And if stories and artists like this matter to you, consider becoming a Colossal Member to support independent arts publishing and receive exclusive benefits like ad-free browsing, discounts in the Colossal Shop, and a members-only newsletter.
