Seungjin Lee chose “Jina” as her professional name, a nickname from her famed and creative Korean folk music family, "Hanbaegajok," into which she was born in 1975. From this background, Jina dived deeply into the world of creative expression through art, graduating with prestigious honors from the Fine Arts Department of Dankook University.
Shortly thereafter, her unique work was exhibited with success in Korea. She then set her sights on broadening her exposure.
For more than seven years now, Jina has lived and painted throughout China, traveling as far as the Xin Jiang province in the Northwest.
Jina likes birds, which are found in each work she creates, whether as obvious figures in the foreground or as subtle sweeping lines behind the central figure(s). The avian motif represents Jina as an individual, as well as linking earthly life to less tangible realities, and to another common theme, that of dreaming.
The power of dreams is represented by circular clouds swirling through the lives of the subject, who often stands with eyes closed. This dream may be a fantasy, a wish for the future, or a road to destiny.
Daisies often grow at the feet of Jina's subjects, showing personal strength and the power to overcome difficult challenges.
Finally, the theme of Family is perhaps the most obvious throughout her works, with many of her paintings including her real-life parents and loved ones. These pieces emanate great warmth and show the tender link between parents and children.
Her work encompasses a dynamic relationship between subtlety and passion, as well as simplicity and boldness, and bears a strong heritage of the traditions of Korean watercolor and ‘Chae saek hua (a painting style using rich colors made from stone powder).
Combining these with a deep understanding of early European Renaissance portraits, and the Gongbi style of Chinese water-ink painting, Jina has brought new depth and dimension to such themes as love, longing, and loss; and to family, nature, and soul.
Jina's creations are an intimate mixture of the love and vision in her life, and of naturally vibrant, hand-made pigments. She spreads her story vividly and richly over multi-layered "Hanji" paper.