Neurodivergent Artist Jeong Hyunkyoo Holds First Solo Exhibition Funded by Citizens
Creatrip Team
7 months ago
Neurodivergent artist and historical painter Jeong Hyunkyoo opened his first solo exhibition “At the Border: Past and Present” on Jan. 12, funded entirely by citizens. The show was produced through 158 donors who contributed 1.2 million KRW via Naver Happybean (a Korean crowdfunding platform) and was presented as part of the nonprofit Byul’s Friends’ ‘Neurodiversity Starlight Creator’ project—its second official debut. Jeong, who is on the autism spectrum, uses history-focused subjects—such as Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s Battle of Hansan, the Battle of Haengju, Goguryeo tomb hunting scenes, and portraits of militia leader Gwak Jae-woo—to reinterpret historical moments through faces and emotions rather than chronology. The exhibition of 43 works mixes past and present, heroes and citizens, and aims to show that a neurodivergent young person can be a recorder of society. The opening included a reception, congratulatory remarks, and a catalogue signing; the project seeks to discover, nurture, and debut neurodivergent creators so their art becomes a sustainable career path.
