invisible people

A recent post on Alice in my head introduced a wonderful Korean artist to me: Jin Young Yu. Her work is so mesmerizing and I just cannot help wanting to own one of her transparent sculptures (clay and PVC). Both expressionless and expressive at the same time, the mask-like faces (masks seem to be a major motif, as they appear as accessoires, as well) symbolize a character, a persona, behind which true identity and emotion hides. Like a three-dimensional examination of hypocrisy, domestic secrets, and the ongoing battle between a private versus public self.

"It was too simple to define them as “the alienated people” or “the depressed people”. Instead, I thought that I, or we, could easily be one of them. My works are about people who, instead of getting along with others, choose to keep a distance from them, and be invisible or be left alone unconcerned. Instead of trying to fit into the world, they climb into a space of their own and reject other people’s intrusions (read the rest of the interview here)."

"My figures express the loneliness of people living today. The transparent body means a perfect shield that makes it possible to hide itself anywhere, while the crying face represents a warning: ‘Don’t come towards me!’ I intend to remind viewers of the loneliness of people in this modern society, where there is little of true communication." And as for an overall theme? "I want to get away from the plastic smiles and fake facial expressions," she says. Thus is the essence of Jin Young’s stoic army.

For more see Union or the artist's blog. Read an interview with the artist on Arrested Motion.