Heejung Shin is a multidisciplinary artist born and  raised in Korea, working primarily in installation, drawing and painting. Her work explores identity, the fragility of the human body, and the law of impermanence. Especially the concept of losing language culture, identity and self as a result of cultural and social displacement. Heejung is exploring various mediums and mainly she creates works with Han-Ji (Mulberry papers from Korea) exploring collage, layer, and installation.

Heejung graduated from the University of Waterloo majoring Honours Fine Arts Studio Practice, Intensive Studio Specialization. She received numerous awards for her outstanding work including Printing Special Award, Helen L. Cross Memorial Scholarship and Vern Hacking Award in Fine Arts from the University of Waterloo. Heejung was part of the Gang-Won Contemporary Art Group Exhibition at Gangneung Museum of Art in Korea. Most recently her installation work was selected for Nuit Blanche Winnipeg.

Hanji, the time-honoured Korean paper, embodies resilience, texture, and a profound connection to the earth — roots that stretch deep into the soil, echoing stories of generations. Through my work with Hanji paper collage, I intertwine these narratives with abstract landscapes, endeavouring to depict the delicate balance between diaspora and identity.

The act of creating with Hanji paper is symbolic. Each fragment, though cut, torn, and repositioned, maintains its intrinsic integrity, mirroring the diasporic experience. Like those of us who've journeyed away from ancestral lands, each piece finds a new place in the world while holding onto its core essence. The collages come together in harmony, just as diasporic communities converge, bringing their histories, traditions, and memories to forge a cohesive, yet multifaceted, identity.

My abstract landscapes serve as a backdrop to this narrative, fluid and expansive. They represent the varied terrains of identity, the ever-shifting sands of belonging and longing. These are not just geographies but emotive realms, each hue and stroke capturing the kaleidoscope of feelings — the nostalgia for a homeland, the embrace of a new community, the in-betweenness, and the journey of self-discovery.

For me, this confluence of Hanji paper collage and abstract landscapes isn't just a medium; it's a bridge — connecting histories, geographies, and the intricate dance of identity within diaspora. It's a reflection on the enduring spirit of displaced communities and the beauty they bring to their adopted homes.