INTERVIEW | Jon Burr

10 Questions with Jon Burr

Jon Burr is a photographer based in Seoul, South Korea.
After majoring in photography in high school, he participated in art fairs and several exhibitions. When he works, he uses various artistic languages, such as modern art and pop art, and tries various techniques. Through these experiments and challenges, he wants to create new creative methods and works.

Jon Burr tries to catch the audience's attention through his work and presents a new perspective on universal things. He hopes that through these changes, art will become closer to our daily lives.

@jonburrworld

Jon Burr - Portrait


INTERVIEW

First of all, who is Jon Burr, and how would you describe yourself in 3 words?

I am a passionate man who lives in Korea. The three words that describe me are justice, peace, and love.

Do you remember when you first decided you wanted to be an artist? 

I've always thought I could do well since I was a kid. In particular, when I became free after graduating from high school, I started various visual and artistic activities with more confidence.

Chair, 40 x 40 cm, 2022 © Jon Burr

Let's talk about your work. What inspired you to pursue a career in art? 

The love and interest of people around me made me keep doing this, but I think the biggest thing is my confidence.

You primarily work with photography, however, not in a traditional way. Why did you choose this medium specifically? What does it represent for you? 

I thought photography was boring. When I turn on my phone a day, I see thousands of pictures. But digital was a grateful medium for saving a lot of money for me, who had a lot of things to express. The paint is free, the canvas is free, and all I need is my imagination.

Where do you find inspiration for your work, and what is your creative process like? 

I'm inspired by the things around me. And games. My work process is very unique, I play Minecraft on my desktop, and I work with my MacBook on the side. I think that's the funniest way to work in the world.

Couch, 40 x 40 cm, 2023 © Jon Burr

Shoe, 40 x 40 cm, 2023 © Jon Burr

How would you define your style? And how has it evolved over the years?

It's hard to define my work in particular. It's like spray art. Actually, I bought a spray and airbrush and tried it on canvas by myself, but my health got worse because I have asthma. 
The way my work evolves is the choice of subject matter. It depends on my mood or my interests at the time, and I've been working on ways to make the spray effects better. I'm using other colors too.

What do you wish to communicate to the public with your work?

I just want my pretty works to shine in people's space. I want people to take pictures in front of my work and ask for the price. That's the best communication, I think.

Dustin & Paul, 40 x 80 cm, 2023 © Jon Burr

Refrigerator, 40 x 80 cm, 2023 © Jon Burr

Do you also work with AI or plan to do so? What is your take on this subject? And in which direction do you hope technology will grow in future years? 

I've made it using artificial intelligence before, but I don't think I'll have any future plans because I don't like that method. Making it with artificial intelligence is definitely amazing and can show many things you want in a short time, but it's not fun to make it by typing in commands. I work digitally, but apart from that, I want something to be able to hang the work on the wall stronger.

What are you working on now, and what are your plans for the future in terms of new projects? 

I'm currently making the Royal Blue series. I used to work only in black and white, but I wanted to make something cool and sweet this summer. My future plan is to participate in a lot of art fairs and attract people's attention overwhelmingly. And getting rich.

Finally, what are your goals for 2023?

I'm going to have two exhibitions this year, one in Korea and one in a foreign country.


Artist’s Talk

Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision and engage them with our diverse readership through a published art dialogue. The artists are interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj, the founder & curator of Al-Tiba9, to highlight their artistic careers and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across our vast network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.