–Tiera Tanner, WDW Radio Team
Epcot keeps moving forward with new, innovative, and immersive experiences under construction throughout the park. The “Journey of Water,” inspired by the 2016 Disney animated feature Moana, continues to come to life and change the landscape of the World Nature area of the park. As guests patiently await its opening, artists at the Epcot International Festival of the Arts draw inspiration from the original film.
Eunjung “June” Kim, a designer and artist living in San Francisco, recreated a special moment from Moana in her artwork, Moana’s Guardians. Surrounded by a teal blue ocean wave and vibrant island foliage, Moana and her grandmother pose at the center of the piece in a moment of synchronized movement. Kim interpreted the pair in her illustrative style and with joyful expressions – a trait carried throughout her Disney artwork.
A full-time game designer, Kim shares her talents through comic conventions and art festivals.
“I learned about the Festival [of the Arts] because many artists I was following were in [it], creating beautiful artworks,” Kim explained. “I have been part of the festival since 2019.”
Kim shared she was excited to see many artists at the festival in person, and choosing her favorite pieces by fellow artists remained challenging.
“It’s like I have to choose between apple and orange,” joked Kim. “I like them all!”
Kim also looked forward to Epcot’s other offerings, such as Epcot’s delicious food, which sparked fond memories.
“[There are] so many great foods, especially inside Epcot,” Kim said. “My sister came to Disney World for the first time a few years ago, and we had so much fun sharing those.”
Kim encouraged artists to “just keep swimming” and not to be shy in sharing their own work.
Kim’s work during the festival can be found at the Odyssey Pavilion and throughout Walt Disney World in Art of Disney and other gallery locations.
