Hopeful Characters by Jo Ye-won (조 예원): Positivity for a Better Future

Jo Ye-won (조 예원) is a self-taught Korean artist who creates soft graphite drawings of various animals, sometimes with their human companions. These animals and humans have glittering eyes—the artist's signature symbol of positive emotions such as hope, courage and happiness. Ye-won’s pieces convey the importance of having a positive outlook, especially in today’s world that’s facing everything from mass biodiversity loss to a rapidly changing climate. This is why drawings by Jo Ye-won are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Life on Land and Good Health And Well-Being.

Ye-won began drawing at a very young age and studied art in college. However, they had to stop drawing for around 10 years due to various personal circumstances. They have slowly returned to their craft for the past two years and hope that their drawings will help to spread joy and love to people from all corners of the world. Hence, their pieces also become testaments to the artist’s resilience, showcasing that anything is possible with a positive mindset and determination.

Ye-won’s practice echoes those of Louis Wain, an illustrator from the early 20th Century who is credited for changing people’s perceptions of cats. In short, Wain painted playful and emotive cats which made it to mainstream media, this made his audiences have positive associations with cats, a sentiment that has lasted to this very day. Like Ye-won, Wain’s life was filled with ups-and-downs, including the death of his wife and consequent struggles with mental health, still both of them are channeling their struggles into art that people can enjoy and smile at.

But unlike Wain, whose art style relied on realism, Ye-won’s art style feels dreamlike. Their characters often appear in neutral-coloured backgrounds, as if they were floating in a clear sunny sky. In fact, one piece titled Let’s walk in the sky together explicitly shows a human being walking with their cat companion in the sky. This symbolism again reminds Ye-won’s viewers of positive emotions, particularly those felt under a clear blue sky.

A study conducted by the University of Leeds has affirmed Ye-won’s method of sharing joy and positivity by conducting research that found the stress and anxiety reduction benefits of watching images and videos of cute animals. Dr. Andrea Utley, who conducted the study, specifically stated that people can benefit from at least 30 minutes a day spent viewing cute animal images and videos. 

Jo Ye-won’s soft graphite drawings of animals and their human companions share hope and positivity in a world facing numerous challenges. By creating characters with glittering eyes that symbolize positive emotions, Ye-won’s work highlights the importance of maintaining a hopeful outlook in life.

Find out more about paintings by Jo Ye-won and their other initiatives by checking their Instagram on @nunister.