Meet Yen Yen Tay | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yen Yen Tay and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yen Yen, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
It all started with the influence of my second brother when I was a kid. We used to paint and draw together in our free time. When I was 10 years old, my mom signed me up for art classes outside of school. Art became the only subject I could fully focus on, allowing me to enter a headspace where I wasn’t distracted by my surroundings. However, art remained just a hobby until I went to college.

Losing my mom when I was 17 significantly affected my decisions. I realized I had to pursue art, as no other major felt right. After a year in college and many inner conflicts, my dad suggested I transfer to another college. I chose an art school at that time, even though I have doubts about whether it was the right decision.

Under the mentorship of various instructors in art college, my passion for art deepened. This transformative experience solidified my commitment to art. Over the years, I slowly deepened my understanding of art and noticed that I could express myself and my thoughts better through my artworks than through words or any other form of language. This is why I am determined to pursue art.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My works are mostly expressed with paintings, mostly in oil. This medium allows me to navigate between representation and expression, giving my work both depth and freedom. My non-figurative pieces, such as still lifes and landscapes, capture life through an impressionist lens. Recently, I’ve introduced sculptures to convey emotions distinctly. Sculpted portraits, in particular, offer a unique avenue to express emotions through forms rather than colors.

My current series delves into the realm of negative emotions, acknowledging the universal experiences of loneliness and struggles. Through my art, I aim to convey the normalcy of these dark feelings, emphasizing that life’s challenges, painful as they may be, provide an opportunity for introspection and self-discovery.

I think one of the greatest struggles for artists is probably financial. We have to balance pushing ourselves artistically while also trying to manage our financial stability. The transition from art school to the professional world has been quite challenging, with more responsibilities and obstacles in the real world. It is not easy, but accepting these challenges is part of embracing the artist’s journey. It is still something I am trying to figure out along the way. Most of the time, your thoughts influence your actions. Thus. I think it is important to believe in yourself and have the faith and confidence to manage them.

I’m most proud of the recent series that I’m currently working on, which carries a message close to my heart. Although most people prefer to turn away from darkness and focus solely on the light, I’ve found strength in confronting the shadows and flaws within myself. Through my struggles, I’ve learned to embrace imperfections and be more resilient. This series serves as a testament to the transformative power of realizing and accepting our darker aspects. I hope that people can find a piece of comfort through my artwork.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d recommend checking out Golden Gate Park as there are a lot of trees and plants for people to get in touch with nature, it also has a botanical garden, Japanese tea garden, and the De Young Museum for different explorations. MoMa and Legion of Honor are also somewhere nice to visit if my friend is into arts. Haight-Ashbury and Pier 39, can also be fun to visit which provides a stronger presence about San Francisco.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Firstly, I was inspired by several instructors when I attended art college. Three who influenced me the most were Ho Jun Lee, who taught me human anatomy, Greg Gandy, who taught me still life painting and urban landscape painting, and Daniel Burt (we called him DJ), who taught me head and figure sculpture.

Jun, an expert in artistic human anatomy, helped me appreciate human figures when I was still confused by figure drawing. Thanks to him, I began to enjoy figure drawing sessions and was able to draw and paint on a deeper level. Greg established a strong foundation for me in still life and urban landscapes. His precise and clear critiques pushed my work to a higher level. I wasn’t expecting to take any sculpture classes during my last year before graduation, but due to the lack of onsite painting classes during the pandemic, I had the chance to learn from DJ. He provided a solid foundation in sculpting and gave us the freedom to create our pieces. I am grateful to have learned from these instructors, as their passion for art brightened their teaching and elevated my artwork.

Additionally, I’d like to acknowledge my friend and fellow artist, Jacqueline Guan, who has been letting me use her studio space since I graduated and has encouraged me along the way. Of course, I also deeply appreciate the friends and family who showed me love and support during my lows and highs. Their encouragement has been invaluable.

Most importantly, I want to thank my parents for their endless love and support throughout my life. Without them, I wouldn’t have had the inner strength to fight for my passion and what I believe in.

Website: https://artistyentay.editorx.io/yenyentay

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yen_thefishball/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Yen-theFishBall/100067831941355/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@yenthefishball

Image Credits
Donald Felton