Joongwon Jeong, a painter from Seoul, South Korea, turns antique paintings and bust sculptures into hyperrealistic portraits. With a blank canvas and some acrylic paint, these amazing works of arts have undergone a breathtaking makeover you have to see to believe to believe it.
Meet the Hyperrealistic Painter
His name is Joongwon Jeong and he splits his time between being an actor at Seoul Shakespeare Company and giving antique works of arts a much-needed makeover. He breathes new life into ancient artwork, and some of the makeovers end up looking better than the original.
He’s a Student of the Arts
Jeong studied Design and Visual Communication at Hongik University of Art & Design in Seoul, South Korea. Now he dabbles in freelance illustrations whenever he gets the chance.
He’s a Social Media Sensation
He has over 7,000 followers on Instagram. He also has a blog, as well as a Deviant Art page where he shares some of his latest masterpiece.
Vincent Van Gogh
The Dutch painter is best known for “The Red Vineyard” painting and for allegedly cutting one ear off so he could paint it. But Jeong was able to show us what Van Gogh would have looked like while he was alive.
Michelangelo’s God
Michelangelo’s interpretation of God creating Adam in the Sistine Chapel was impressive. But Jeong’s hyperrealistic makeover makes God seem less like a cartoon and more like a man.
Michaelangelo’s Adam
As part of the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling, Michelangelo painted this Fresco of Adam. But after Jeong worked his magic, he ended up looking eerie similar to Ezra Miller from “Justice League.”
Costanza Bonarelli
Italian sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini made this marble bust of Costanza Bonarelli, which is on display at the Bargello Museum in Florence. Costanza was Bernini’s wife and assistant. And her hyperrealistic makeover makes her much more relatable and beautiful.
Homer
Homer was known as the teacher of Greece and the father of western literature. His literary masterpiece, The Aeneid, became the template for early science fiction and other literary art. But in the makeover, he looks more like a man and less like a God from the sculpture on the left.
Giuliano de’ Medici
Giuliano de’ Medici ruled Florence alongside his brother Lorenzo the Magnificent. And while the sculpture looked impressive, Jeong’s artwork on the right shows off more of Giuliano’s handsome Italian features.
Venus de Milo
Venus de Milo is thought to be either the Goddess Aphrodite or the sea-goddess Amphitrite. It’s one of the oldest statues and is on display at the Louvre Museum. But Jeong’s magical brush strokes have made her more lifelike.
The Death of Seneca
Seneca was a Roman Philosopher accused of being part of a conspiracy to overthrow Nero. He was ordered to end his life, which he agreed to do. And Jeong captured the sadness and the disappointment of what Seneca was about to face.
Sigmund Freud
It turns out that Jeong doesn’t just give makeovers to works of arts but people, too. Take Sigmund Freud for instance. He was the founder of Psychoanalysis. And if you ever wondered what he looked like in color, then check it out.
