The Disappeared

This work explores how digital life reshapes our sense of connection and community. In the painting, three people share the same physical space, yet only one—the boy in front of the screen—is clearly visible. The others fade into the background, blurred and ghostlike, as if gradually being erased.

The glowing screen becomes the focal point of his attention, symbolizing how online connections can often feel more vivid than the real people around us. As digital interactions intensify, real-life relationships grow distant, and those nearby begin to “disappear.”

The Disappeared raises questions about what it means to exist within a community. It suggests that survival today is not only physical, but also relational—tied to whether we are truly seen, remembered, and connected by others. In an age of constant connection, the risk of isolation remains dangerously real.

Hyungjun Chin is a junior at Cornerstone Collegiate Academy of Seoul, Korea. He is passionate about exploring historical events through graphic design and 2D illustration. Using tools like Photoshop and Illustrator, Hyungjun experiments with various visual techniques to express his emotional response to significant moments in history. His work aims to bridge the past and present, translating complex narratives into engaging visual forms. Through his creative process, he seeks not only to represent historical facts but also to convey their lasting emotional and cultural impact. Hyungjun continues to refine his style while deepening his connection to history through art.