3-A Gallery, CICA Museum
October 16 – 20, 2024
2024.10.16-20
THE GENESIS COLLECTION
My name is Bryant Hyun, and I am a 25-year-old director, filmmaker, and oil painter based in Los Angeles. As a Korean-American, my artistic journey as a painter and visual artist is deeply rooted in an unyielding commitment to the representation of the Asian-American experience. I seek to become an artist of a generation, one who proudly carries the experiences of my confusion, culture, curiosity, and continual pursuit of growth into all of my art. My work is driven by a profound desire to contribute to this broader picture, and with each original piece, I aim to weave the essence of our shared- (but unshared)- journeys, delving into the intricacies of cultural fusion, heritage, and the quest for belonging.
I often introspectively compare myself to a Ronin–a wandering samurai, without master. Oil painting and the brush to me, represent the katana and its wielder. As I began this collection, I found myself drawn to vibrant colors: blood red, aquatic blues, and gold. The visual worlds and images of fables and cyberpunk cities are all brought to life utilizing oil paint, spray techniques, pastels, and mixed media as my mediums. Together, they create a visual symphony of controlled chaos. The vivid characters and champions of many of these pieces are comprised of self-portraits, and manifestations of superheroes and comic book characters that I grew up with but wished looked a bit more like me. My reflections on my sessions and completed pieces revealed with violent clarity that I have a rage that motivates my persistence to create and be seen for what I am. Any resentments of feeling like a misfit and outsider spilled themselves into these pieces. I had a singular mission: to be the representation in the arts that I wanted to see; to be someone who adds legacy to the currently infantile history of what it means to be Asian-American. We are what I describe as chameleons, always trying to fit in, never quite standing out. I cannot accept this, and thus refuse this archetype, focusing this collection (and my career in the arts), on expressing the vibrance of this fiery obsession.
Being self-taught, I find the canvas is a space where I can articulate and learn simultaneously, it becomes a voice for the unspoken–a space filled with contemplation and connection for myself and many others. So much of my work outside of painting is founded on teamwork, problem-solving, and good communication. Working as a director is often a medley of chaos,
and the canvas to me is a place of peace, a portal to my innermost reflections and thoughts. Representation matters, and as an artist, I have committed my entire career thus far to contributing to a visual landscape that authentically reflects the diversity, resilience, and beauty of our community, and am only hungrier to take it further.
Here are 10 original works from the Genesis Collection. Seamlessly integrated into this body of work are my directorial abilities, as I bring not only paintings but my newest work as a director. I humbly present a short film entitled: “Where the Mountain Met the River.” This abstract visual piece complements the entire mission of the collection and is a beautiful addition to my work as a visual artist. The film dances through the intimate confusion of being both Korean and American, often feeling: “not Asian enough” or “too Asian” for Western culture. Exploring a mystical fable founded on themes of familial ties, heritage, and the beauty of youth, I found myself pouring my heart and soul into this 10-minute short film.
With a perceptive eye for composition and the soul of an artist, I aim to take you on a compelling journey that transcends cultural boundaries. I have yet to have my first debut solo show as an artist, and this film has not been released yet. Enjoy my presentation of: “Project Genesis”, a proud showcase of original art pieces and an abstract short film, each bearing witness to my philosophy as an artist, and unwavering dedication to my craft.
Bryant Hyun is a 25-year-old Korean-American, Seattle-born painter and filmmaker. His visual work has ranged from major record label music videos to award-winning short films, and most recently: his first full collection of original art, entitled: “Project Genesis.”
Since the beginning of his filmmaking career, Bryant has articulated his voice in film on issues of race and silenced communities, winning the “I Am 2018 Film Festival” which commemorated the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s last speech and his assassination. Hyun traveled to Memphis where he delivered a speech and took part in the event which premiered his short film. Shortly after that, he delivered the poignant story of a blind dancer struggling through the trauma of sexual assault and followed up with another short film entitled “Saigu”, which highlights Grace, a young Korean American girl, and Jamie, a young Black teen boy, who find themselves stuck in the same convenience store together during the 1992 LA Riots. It recently won first place in a film festival for Panavision.
In the last few months of his college career, Bryant was picked to be a part of the Academy Gold program; an exclusive internship to develop young diverse filmmakers in Hollywood. Along with three other members of the program, Bryant was hand-selected amongst the fellow 800 interns to present awards at the Oscars. He presented Best Picture to “Parasite” at the 92nd Academy Awards through which he obtained his first mentor in film production: Jon Chu, the director of “Crazy Rich Asians”
Having continuously worked full-time as an independent creative, he has amassed a diverse resume of clientele, directing, editing, and producing music videos for artists and brands like Umi, RedBull, Eric Reprid, Ty Dolla $ign, Steve Aoki, Khantrast, Anderson Paak, Cordae, Yelawolf, Powfu, 88 Rising, and many more. Bryant’s work as an editor and photographer has been in Variety and on the billboards of Times Square, and he is currently delivering brilliant numbers for viral rollouts amongst notable Asian-American artists and rappers, combining for over 5.5 million views across visuals in the last half of 2024.
Over the last two years of his career, Bryant embarked on a consistent, expressive, and purposeful venture into oil painting, and has single-handedly developed a large body of over 20 canvas works with an accompanying, 42-page, printed magazine. Having already sold various original art pieces across the United States, Bryant has just confirmed a solo exhibition in South Korea of 2024 at the CICA Museum. He has had a singular premiere exhibition in Los Angeles with this collection, before bringing it to Korea.
His voice as a painter and director has become more apparent with his newest, unreleased short film: “Where The Mountain Met the River”, an abstract piece about the ever-developing and confusing identity of being an Asian-American. With a huge focus on topics such as intergenerational racism, cultural growth, legacy, and youth, Bryant has accumulated over 14,000 followers on Instagram for his visual works thus far and continues to develop and sharpen his talents and abilities as an emerging Korean-American artist.
