We were lucky to catch up with HYUNJUN YANG recently and have shared our conversation below.
HYUNJUN, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?
Back When was BFA in Fine Arts, few of my works on paper was vandalized in campus gallery. There were no security camera and department was not interested in finding whoever did it but I could easily suspect the reason as there were dispute about my work having human genitalia. Few of students think I was draw it as a bad joke. Meanwhile, I was doing my best explaining my intention of destroying the hierarchy in theme of work and rigid Korean society that even won’t allow people to watch pornography. They didn’t even consider listening to me and kept trying to suppress me. That was moment that I learned that it Is not worth trying to convince every people.
I simply revenged them by putting collage made of bunch of Japanese adult comic images. (Mostly known as Hentai in internet)
HYUNJUN, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I create grotesque underground imagery to explore the complicated mind of mine. I started to illustrate a twisted and wounded creatures like to visualize my mental status. I wanted to let the people who going through harsh time identify with my art and makes them revitalize like how Frida Kahlo’s art helped me at my dark times. Art makes me feel like I can set myself free. Even though I cannot set myself free from repression in real life, inside canvas or paper I can set my desire, wish and impulse free.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Just creating itself is rewarding. It is such a fun to make something you want to make. Of course, my life will be more fulfilling with more recognition and less financial hardship. But I can’t complaim.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
That art supposed to serve others, not me. But now I realized that if I make art that does not serves me, creation most likely not good. Art should be honest. Honest about what you want to make and create. And people will know in your art if you are dishonest about what you want to make.
Contact Info:
- Website: yhj1997arts.com
- Instagram: @y.hyunjun1997.archive
