L'Oréal Korea, led by CEO Rodrigo Pizarro, has hosted the awards ceremony for the CREATE YOUR BEAUTY competition, which is conducted in collaboration with Spring Shine Social Cooperative and Hongik University's Graduate School of Cultural and Arts Management. This initiative aims to showcase the individual artistic sensibilities of artists with developmental disabilities.
This biennial art competition, now in its third iteration, received submissions from a total of 672 artists. The theme for this year was 'The Beauty I Discovered,' allowing participants to express their unique interpretations of beauty.
Two rounds of judging narrowed the entries down to six finalists, whose works were exhibited in-house at the L'Oréal Korea office, enabling employees to appreciate the art and participate in the voting process. The final selection of the award was determined by combining employee votes (70%) and evaluations from academic judges at Hongik University (30%).
The grand prize was awarded to artist Lim Seong-hyeon for her piece titled 'Animals Living in Ilwol Obongdo Are Happy.' Inspired by the Ilwol Obongdo seen at the National Museum of Korea, Lim's artwork features diverse animals from around the world, reflecting her hope for the happiness of all living creatures through its vibrant colors and composition.
In commenting on her win, Lim stated, 'I wanted to depict various animals living around the world along with the Ilwol Obongdo I saw at the National Museum of Korea. I hoped that all animals on Earth, like the creatures in my painting, would be happy. I am thrilled that so many people appreciate my artwork and have honored me with this award. I wish to continue showing the beauty I've discovered through my paintings.'
Other finalists included works by artists No Heon-jun, Ko Hyun-jun, Byeon Ye-sol, Lee Da-rae, and Cheon Soo-min. The finalists' works from the second round of judging are also available for viewing online on the Spring Shine website.
Rodrigo Pizarro emphasized the importance of the competition, noting, 'It was meaningful to encounter the diverse and colorful beauty as discovered by artists with developmental disabilities. Each piece embodies a unique perspective and sensitivity, reaffirming that beauty can be expressed in various ways rather than being a single standard. L'Oréal Korea will continue to support artists with developmental disabilities in showcasing their talents and creativity and sharing their unique beauty with a broader audience.'
