Chosun Ink
By Eric Son
Eric Son – Artist Statement
Born in South Korea and raised between two cultural worlds, I have always been drawn to the power of storytelling through visual art. My journey began with Korean animations and comics, which filled my childhood with dynamic characters and fantastical adventures. When I immigrated to the United States at the age of eight, my creative universe expanded—I discovered the iconic heroes of Star Wars, Spider-Man, Batman, and Superman. These early influences instilled in me a deep love for narrative-driven art, one that only grew stronger in my teenage years as I immersed myself in Japanese samurai films, anime, and the cinematic grit of post-apocalyptic worlds like The Terminator, Mad Max, The Matrix, and The Book of Eli.
While I was inspired by these rich pop culture narratives, I also sought a medium that was uniquely mine—something that resonated with my heritage but allowed me to reinterpret it in a contemporary way. My search led me to the bold simplicity of Asian ink painting, a tradition rooted in expressive brushwork and minimalistic elegance. Traditionally used to depict landscapes, nature, and calligraphy, I saw an opportunity to merge this timeless technique with the futuristic, dystopian, and heroic themes that shaped my imagination. The result is a fusion of East and West—where ink strokes capture the fluid motion of a samurai duel, the raw intensity of a cyberpunk wasteland, or the quiet solitude of a lone warrior against an uncertain world.
During the pandemic, I devoted myself entirely to this artistic pursuit, refining my ink-based style and pushing its boundaries. Every piece I create is a reflection of my influences—melding the ancient with the modern, the traditional with the rebellious, and the delicate with the bold. My work is a bridge between nostalgia and innovation, where the stories I grew up with are reborn through a medium that feels both deeply personal and refreshingly new. Through ink, I channel the essence of movement, emotion, and mythology, breathing life into pop culture icons and original visions alike.
Born in South Korea and raised between two cultural worlds, I have always been drawn to the power of storytelling through visual art. My journey began with Korean animations and comics, which filled my childhood with dynamic characters and fantastical adventures. When I immigrated to the United States at the age of eight, my creative universe expanded—I discovered the iconic heroes of Star Wars, Spider-Man, Batman, and Superman. These early influences instilled in me a deep love for narrative-driven art, one that only grew stronger in my teenage years as I immersed myself in Japanese samurai films, anime, and the cinematic grit of post-apocalyptic worlds like The Terminator, Mad Max, The Matrix, and The Book of Eli.
While I was inspired by these rich pop culture narratives, I also sought a medium that was uniquely mine—something that resonated with my heritage but allowed me to reinterpret it in a contemporary way. My search led me to the bold simplicity of Asian ink painting, a tradition rooted in expressive brushwork and minimalistic elegance. Traditionally used to depict landscapes, nature, and calligraphy, I saw an opportunity to merge this timeless technique with the futuristic, dystopian, and heroic themes that shaped my imagination. The result is a fusion of East and West—where ink strokes capture the fluid motion of a samurai duel, the raw intensity of a cyberpunk wasteland, or the quiet solitude of a lone warrior against an uncertain world.
During the pandemic, I devoted myself entirely to this artistic pursuit, refining my ink-based style and pushing its boundaries. Every piece I create is a reflection of my influences—melding the ancient with the modern, the traditional with the rebellious, and the delicate with the bold. My work is a bridge between nostalgia and innovation, where the stories I grew up with are reborn through a medium that feels both deeply personal and refreshingly new. Through ink, I channel the essence of movement, emotion, and mythology, breathing life into pop culture icons and original visions alike.
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