I paint my inner utopia, RIOPIA, through a simple visual language that is easy and quick to express. My artistic journey began with the childhood habit of doodling in the blank spaces of books or notebooks. Over time, this evolved and expanded onto large canvases, street walls, and various objects. I rarely begin with a fixed plan. Instead, I freely express emerging thoughts and emotions using simplified visual images such as symbols, icons, and words. Much like a child’s doodles, this approach feels to me one of the most honest ways to convey emotions.

RIO JEE + UTOPIA = RIOPIA

When I immersed myself in aimless doodling, I often felt as though I were transported into another world, far removed from reality. Perhaps those moments were when I encountered my truest self. I came to realize that doodling was not only a spontaneous act but also one of the quickest and most sincere ways to express my feelings.

At that moment of facing my inner self, I wanted to define that world and named it RIOPIA—my own utopia. As time passed and I changed, so too did the meaning of RIOPIA. It came to embody moments of immersion, being honest with myself, moving toward happiness, beauty, and a free life, and never losing sight of my true self. Looking back, RIOPIA has always represented whatever I valued most at a given time. Though its meaning may continue to evolve, at its core, RIOPIA signifies my determination and will to remember, to preserve, and to move toward what I hold dear.

To draw what comes to mind and what my eyes see is, ultimately, to see myself and to reveal where my heart is heading. The symbols, icons, and words that appear in my paintings all represent RIOPIA and freedom. I want to continue painting and living freely, joyfully, and sincerely—like the drawings of a child.

“LOVE LIFE ALWAYS RIOPIA”