What is your inner child like? ‘Adult Child’ is an ongoing series that Yang Hyun Jun has been working on since 2013. The series focuses on family and humanity. Family is a perpetual important component in Yang’s life while humanity to the artist is an immediate realization that comes only after one is able to grasp the greatness of Family. His subject matter highlights particularly maternal love, acting as both a profound quest into and a personal answer to the lack of a father figure in his childhood. The female protagonist symbolizes the artist’s mother - The artist hopes to express through a fun and engaging way what a true altruist his mother is. Each work shows the same little girl with a different story in various settings, some with influences from movies and pop culture. She is always having a good time in all kinds of activities - reading, taking care of animals, traveling, playing music, eating etc. The cheeky smirk-like smile on her face adds on an amusing and comical element to Yang’s works. “You may feel like you live in this world alone at times, but you are always due to rely on somebody or be with somebody in one way or another; this stems from humanity” A recurring motif is the little girl’s runny nose symbolizing innocence and a carefree childhood manner, painted with epoxy resin, adding a subtle yet signature layer of 3D effect to the artist’s acrylic works on Hanji, traditional Korean paper or on wood panel. Imagination is key to living an enjoyable life. However serious and intimate the inspiration behind this series of artworks may be, Yang hopes to playfully share and remind his audience the significance of genuine compassion and affection that humankind is able to share with one another.