Meet Young Shin | Artist

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

Hi Young, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” is the constant inquiry I direct toward myself, and it is also my favorite quote of all time. This quote, from the poem “The Summer Day” by Mary Oliver, nudges me to contemplate and reflect on the purpose and quality of my life. Each morning, with this poignant inquiry, I feel compelled to seize the fleeting moments, appreciate the rarity and uniqueness of my own life as well as others’, and look for beauty and wonder around me and in the intricate details of everyday life. It is certainly a perfect panacea to mundanity, chaos, anxiety, disappointment, and dissatisfaction – the emotional state which, to our own detriment, became too common of state for too many of us living contemporary life. These beautiful words remind me that the time on earth is so precious, because it is limited; thus, to live purposefully and intentionally, to fully embrace life’s vicissitudes and challenges, as well as opportunities and aspirations with more courage, joy, creativity and, most importantly, with as much gusto as I can muster each day.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I make abstract paintings with paper, although some of my collectors refer to my works as collages or soft sculptures due to their heaviness in texture. My work overall examines and explores aspects of ephemerality and unpredictability as it relates to human experience. My visual articulation is generally manifested in heavily textured stripped lines, rigidly structured or fluidly aligned “grid-like” surface, or intensely sanded down geometric shapes “unearthed” from the bottom layers of paper. I think what makes me unique as an artist may be in the process; several layers of paper are glued together then the very layers are destroyed by stripping, sanding, or peeling to reveal what’s underneath. It is always incredible and I’m so proud when art collectors, designers, and institutional buyers seek out for my works precisely for this philosophical and empirical uniqueness that they appreciate. Recently, my works have started to be placed in public spaces such as museums, hotels, and office buildings – and I’m truly grateful for all these creative opportunities coming my way. Of course, there were many challenges along the way. It took me almost 10 years to find my voice and claim my own vision as an artist. It took time, persistence, and endurance. Lastly, I want the world to know that my art celebrates the tenuous and delicate beauty of life. Life’s precarious impermanence – a universal human experience – is expressed onto canvas by my building, annihilating, and eventually, birthing and revealing anew.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As there are too many wonderful and exciting places to visit in Los Angeles, I’ll limit my mini-itinerary to a weekend in DTLA. We will begin the day with brunch at Manuela, one of my favorite restaurants in the city with its artistic ambiance, open and rustic space, and elegant Southern inspired cuisine. I lived in the South for several years, so it was a delightful find for me; their beignet and benedict are especially a must! Then just a few steps away is the iconic Hauser & Wirth with its industrial and rugged charm with diverse range of contemporary artworks from emerging to established artists. I enjoy walking through their galleries that range from large installations to paintings – all in a very laid-back and casual atmosphere. Then we’ll walk a few blocks to Hennessey + Ingalls Bookstore. I love this bookstore. It specializes in art, design, photography, and architecture books and magazines. It is spacious, airy, and we would spend an afternoon browsing and exploring new and used books, finding inspiration from diverse artistic perspectives. Then Rooftop Cinema Club in the evening sounds fun. This is an open-air cinema experience under the night sky amid a vibrant and festive urban downtown setting. Then will close the day at Le Petit Paris nearby on Spring Street. It is a lovely French brasserie in the middle of Los Angeles, and the ambience exudes elegance and intimacy. Romantic setting coupled with the exquisite French cuisine and extensive wine list make this place a perfect date night spot, and the perfect way to end the day.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout is dedicated really to any books and essays by Joan Didion although my personal favorite is “Play It as It Lays” – Didion’s book, published in 1970, that explores emotional and relational complexities and ambiguities against the backdrop of glamorous and glitzy Hollywood. Not only am I a huge fan of her works as a reader, but I also feel that her works have impacted and inspired my art practice in a profound as well as practical way. I’m a visual artist who aspires to evoke impactful imagery and capture the ethos of human experience through visual means. In doing so, I seek for inspiration from my own interiority, as my work is about the exploration into introspection and the impermanence of life. So, in general, my artistic inspiration tends to come from reading and, it is Joan Didion’s incisive and penetrating words I constantly go back to reading and re-reading – particularly, for the emotional resonance of her stories and detailed subtleties in mood and terrain. Her insightful observations, and evocative words describing fragility of life, and complexities involving human conditions and relationships make me feel that what I do is relevant and what I feel is universal. I know that many visual artists feel inspired listening to music, and I feel the same way about written words; and it is Didion’s words I often refer to and listen to in the studio when I feel fatigued, creatively depleted, and in need of meaningful depth and nuance.

Website: https://youngshinart.com/

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