Renowned Animator Ahn Jae-huun Kicks off 2024-25 Visiting Artist Program
Campus and public events planned
Acclaimed Korean animation director Ahn Jae-huun will open the 2024-25 Visiting Artists Program at The Ohio State University with a weeklong residency from Sept. 22-27. The event will bring together students, faculty and the community for a series of classroom visits, workshops, a free public exhibit, and public film screenings that will encourage students, faculty and community members alike to learn about the art form, develop their skills and push the boundaries of their creativity.
In conjunction with the residency, the Wexner Center for the Arts will host Meditation with a Pencil: The Animation of Ahn Jae-huun, from Sept. 17-29. This program will showcase Ahn's beautiful, hand-drawn, 2D animations celebrating Korean life, culture and traditions. Meditation with a Pencil features a public retrospective of Ahn’s films, with Ahn making personal appearances on Sept. 24 and 26. These events are free for all audiences with a ticket. Visit the Wex website for details and ticket information.
Ahn Jae-huun spent many years working as an animator for such shows as The Simpsons and Family Guy during a time when much of the studio animation work in Korea supported American films and television. Ahn then started his studio, Meditation with a Pencil, dedicated to depicting Korean life in hand-drawn, 2D animations that celebrate the country’s scenery, culture and traditions. The studio creates films under the ideal of “drawings that cure and colors that touch one’s heart.” Ahn’s experiences range from film to digital animation processes, and he is one of the only Korean filmmakers to have directed shorts, television series, commercials, original video animation and feature-length films. His short film, One Day of Hitchcock, won several awards in Korea, and his works have appeared in many international film festivals where they have received prizes that include the Grand Competition - Feature Film at Animafest Zagreb and the Contrechamp Jury Distinction at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
Public events – free and open to all
Sept. 17: Free public screening, The Shaman Sorceress (2018), 7 p.m., Wex (free for all audiences with a ticket).
Sept. 24: Free public screening, The Road Called Life (1994), 7 p.m., Wex (free for all audiences with a ticket). Ahn will introduce this series of three short films.
Sept. 26: Ahn Jae-huun in Conversation with Associate Professor Kyoung Lee Swearingen, 5 p.m.; reception, 6 p.m.; free public screening, Green Days (2010), 7 p.m.; followed by a Q&A with Ahn, Wex (free for all audiences with a ticket). The day’s events are presented in conjunction with the annual citywide Cartoon Crossroads Columbus festival.
Sept. 28: Free public workshop with Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD) and Advanced Computer Center for the Arts and Design (ACCAD) faculty, CCAD Design Studios on Broad Drawing Room, 390 E. Broad St., 10 a.m. to noon.
Sept. 29: Free public screening, The Shower (2017), followed by a selection of Ahn’s short films, 1 p.m., Wex (free for all audiences with a ticket).
Classroom and campus events
During Ahn’s residency, diverse student and faculty events will occur, engaging multiple departments. The many planned activities include classroom visits with the Department of Art, Department of Design, and the Department of East Asian Languages and Literature. Tours of the ACCAD and the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. Additionally, the artist will lead workshops and discussions with undergraduate and graduate students, including specialized sessions with design MFA students and the Animation Club. Faculty from the Departments of Design and Art will also have opportunities to engage with the artist during dinners and private receptions, ensuring a rich and immersive experience for the entire academic community.
“We are excited to welcome Director Ahn to our campus, where his visit will foster a culture of collaboration and interdisciplinary learning, stimulating creative cross-pollination among diverse departments and centers,” said Vice Provost for the Arts Lisa Florman. “His presence will inspire innovative projects and help to instill a passion for creativity in our students, empowering them to become the next generation of visionary leaders while enriching our broader community through public presentations and engagement.”
Ahn’s visit is cosponsored by Ohio State’s Office of Academic Affairs; Wexner Center for the Arts, Institute for Korean Studies; Department of East Asian Languages and Literature; Department of Art; Department of Design; Department of Theatre, Film, and Media Arts; Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design; and East Asian Studies Center.