We recently connected with Hannah JH. Bang and have shared our conversation below.

Hannah JH., thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the best or worst investment you’ve made (either in terms of time or money)? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

Investing involves risk taking. This causes us to ask: under what circumstances will we decide to invest? When we challenge ourselves to pursue our dreams, we must revise and refine our priorities to continue moving forward, which means the circumstances you are in might change. As I introduce myself, I will introduce what I invested in as well.

Hannah JH., love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hello, I am Hannah JH Bang, an artist and creator based in New York City. My story begins in 2018 when I came to the United States to study Painting and Fiber, specifically textile design, at the Savannah College of Art and Design. This was a chance to challenge myself and make some big changes to my life, but the investment was high risk, high reward. In 2023, I finally graduated from college and was given the opportunity to participate in the NES artist-in-residence program for the month of April in Iceland.

Within 14 days of graduating, I had to move all of my belongings from the US to Korea and then to my final destination of Iceland. Once in Iceland, I had to taxi from the capital of Reykjavik to a bus station, where I was then transported 3 hours away to the residency. After hours of exhausting travel, I arrived in Skagastrond where I discovered the room that would be my home for a month. I allowed myself to relax and take a nap, but I woke up still nervous with anticipation. I tried to monitor my mental health to make sure I was taking care of myself after my fatiguing travel day. This artist residency was a huge decision and investment for me financially, mentally, and physically. It was also especially difficult to sacrifice spending more time with my family, but they are always so supportive of me. I knew it was time for me to explore and experience life for myself in Iceland, “the Land of Fire of Ice”. In retrospect, this was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my whole life. It was an opportunity unlike anything else, and it allowed me to look back and organize my life in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. If you want to see a glimpse of my life in Iceland, please check out my YouTube channel! It’s titled The Living Experience in Iceland for Artist Residency Work Experience. As a full-time artist, I feel grounded and fulfilled while working entirely on my own hours/schedule.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Something I loved about my experience in Iceland was that it was a very small community surrounded by a lot of nature. Besides the open studio for about a month, there were less than ten new people in Skagastrond. The time I spent there was very valuable to me as an artist. I was able to gather, recognize, and experience the works of other existing artists who have helped shaped my art today. I shared my residency with many other spectacular artists such as Clara McGowan, Claudia Osborne, Lara Kroeker, Linda Saul, and Naakai Dzole Addy, who all come from countries all over the world. These people inspired me and my artwork so much because of their passion for their work. The ability to work independently in Iceland, while also collaborating was so powerful.

Do you want to see NES April 2023 artists’ work? Check out my NES April 2023 LINCO PAGE! https://www.linco.app/hb4god/nes-art-residency-2023-april

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

In 2 years, I will be studying at Parsons Fine Arts in New York City to complete my MFA in Connection and Creativity Works. My goal as a Christian is to visualize God’s love, peace, and graditude. For myself, I want to practice awareness as I consistently remind myself of my life priorities, as well as keeping my artistic process organized and clear.

Contact Info:

• Other: About Hannah JH. Bang: https://www.linco.app/hb4god/71