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Jayoung Yoon

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Jayoung Yoon
BornJune 14, 1979
Seoul, South Korea
NationalitySouth Korean
EducationHongik University; Cranbrook Academy of Art
Known forSculpture, Textiles, Video, Performance
Websitehttps://www.jayoungyoon.com

Jayoung Yoon (Korean: 윤자영; Hanja: 尹慈永; born 1979) is a South Korean artist known for her interdisciplinary work using human hair and other natural materials.[1] Yoon draws inspiration from diverse sources, including Christian and Buddhist philosophies, as well as other spiritual traditions.[2][3] Her artistic practice spans various media, including sculpture, performance, video, and two-dimensional works.[3][4][5] Yoon lives and works in Beacon, New York, seeking to infuse her life and work with a closer connection to nature.[2]

Early life and education

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Yoon was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Hongik University in Korea and later moved to the United States in 2006 to continue her education.[2] She received a Master of Fine Arts in fiber arts from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan in 2009.[2][3]

Work

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Themes and inspiration

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Yoon's art is rooted in exploring invisible thoughts, perception and the body to achieve a state of mindfulness.[1][2][3] Yoon views human hair as a symbol bridging the physical and spiritual realms, often using it as her primary material.[1][2][5] She employs lengths of hair hand-knotted or woven together to create semi-transparent sculptural forms and two-dimensional geometric images.[6][7][8] These intricate structures that can take countless hours to create.[5] The delicate and tactile nature of the medium demands attention and presence, as the work can shift as a result of subtle changes in airflow.[7]

In addition to human hair, Yoon works with other natural materials such as feathers and milkweed seed fiber.[3][9] She has recently incorporated traditional Korean horsehair weaving techniques into her works, connecting her contemporary practice with cultural heritage.[9]

Sculpture

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Yoon's sculptural works explore themes of interconnectedness, emptiness, and life cycles. Web of Life (2015–2017), a large-scale work with a 9-foot diameter, is composed of tiny hand-made knots, intertwining hair from immediate and extended family members to represent their connection in life.[5][10] The Form and Emptiness series (2015–2017) features woven mesh boxes with geometric forms, hung from the ceiling. Each cradles a different geometric shape at its heart, creating a visual dialogue between form and void, structure and absence.[5][11][12] The Skull (2016), a hair-adorned sculpture made of hair and glue, represents life cycles and mortality.[13][14]  The Offering Bowl #7 (2022) uses her mother's hair, expressing the cycle of life and acknowledging the influence her mother played in her art.[10]

Performances and video art

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Extending her artistic practice, Yoon creates performance pieces and video art that further explore themes of meditation, mindfulness, and the connection between body and mind.[3][4][15] Her performances frequently involve subjecting herself to the elements for extended periods, aiming to achieve a state of empathetic mindfulness.[1][15] In her film Listen to the Mind I (2009), a nine-minute video condensed from 10 hours of footage, Yoon lies naked in a white cube. A hair funnel from her ear remains unaffected by sunlight while her skin burns, symbolizing mental resilience amid physical change.[15] Her short videos explore the reductive essence of meditation, as seen in works like Non-Ego (2010), a video installation featuring eleven large pots and the artist's body.[1][16] Another work, Umbicality (A close or intimate connection) (2012), explores the connection between sky and body, air and skin, using her hair to bridge between nothingness and form.[17][18] In 2012, Yoon presented Clearing the Mind, a performance piece at Deep Tanks gallery, further demonstrating her exploration of meditative states through artistic expression.[19]

Critical reception

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Critics describe Yoon's work as delicate and unsettling in its beauty, thought-provoking and contemplative.[20][21] Her artistic approach is viewed as phenomenological,  investigating perception and the body.[3] The tactile and fragile nature of her chosen medium, human hair, is often emphasized as a key element in her work. Critics note how this medium demands attention and presence from the audience, with subtle changes in airflow potentially altering the viewer's perception of the piece.[7][21] Yoon's distinctive ability to blend asceticism and aesthetics is highlighted, creating works that draw viewers into deep contemplation.[1][15]

Selected fellowships and grants

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  • Joan Mitchell Fellowship (2023)[22]
  • AHL Foundation Artist Fellowship (2020)[23]
  • MacDowell Fellowship (2018)[24]
  • Ora Schneider Regional Residency Grant (2017)[25]
  • BRIC Media Arts Fellowship, Brooklyn, New York (2014)[26]
  • The Franklin Furnace Fund for Performance Art (2010)[27]

Selected artist residencies

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Selected exhibitions

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Yoon's work has been exhibited in numerous solo and group shows at museums, galleries, and art institutions across the United States and internationally.[5][9]

Solo exhibitions

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  • Perceiving Emptiness, Rose Lehrman Art Gallery, HACC, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (2023)[34]
  • Sowing Seeds of Emptiness, Garrison Art Center, Garrison, New York (2022)[7]      
  • Seeing the Threshold, San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, San Jose, California (2018)[35]      
  • Ephemerality, Theo Ganz Studio, Beacon, New York (2016)[2]

Group exhibitions

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  • Don't Touch My Hair, Hannah Traore Gallery, New York, New York (2024)[36]
  • Interlacement, The Korea Society, New York, New York (2021)[37]
  • The Day After, Culture House, Washington, D.C. (2021)[38]
  • Hair: Textures of Belonging, Studio 3 Gallery, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom (2020)[39]
  • Materialized, Hampden Gallery, UMass Amherst, Massachusetts (2019)[40]
  • Fiberart International 2019, Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2019)[41]
  • Hand/Eye, Form & Concept, Santa Fe, New Mexico (2018)[42]
  • Sutures, Marc Straus, New York, New York (2018)[43]
  • Multilayered: New Prints 2018/Summer, Print Center New York, New York (2018)[44]
  • The ArtsWestchester 2018 Triennial, ArtsWestchester, White Plains, New York (2018)[45]
  • Bronx Calling: The Fourth AIM Biennial, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, New York, New York (2018)[13]
  • CICA Experimental Film and Video, Czong Institute for Contemporary Art, Gyeonggi-do, Korea (2016)[46]
  • Portal Art Fair, Federal Hall, New York, New York (2016)[11]
  • Threaded, Flatiron Project Space, School of Visual Arts, New York, New York (2016)[47]
  • The 11th Busan International Video Art Festival, Busan, Korea (2014)[48]
  • East and West: Asian Influence on Contemporary American Craft, Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, OH (2013)[49]
  • Sacred Vision, Separate Views, Tibet House US, New York, New York (2012)[50]
  • Show me your hair, Coreana Museum of Art, Seoul, Korea (2011)[51]
  • Containment, Garfo Art Center, Salt Lake City, Utah (2010)[52]
  • Hair Tactic, Jersey City Museum, Jersey City, New Jersey (2010)[53]

Collections

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  • Richardson Family Art Museum, Wofford College, Spartanburg, South Carolina[54]
  • Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, Nebraska City, Nebraska[55]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Moore, Alex C. (2013-03-13). ""Sometimes Still, Sometimes Full of Tears: A Studio Visit with Jayoung Yoon, or a Strange Eulogy for William Francis"". The Paris Review.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Jayoung Yoon at Theo Ganz Studio – The Current". 2016-07-03. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Whitman, Arthur (2019-11-21). ""Intricate Universe": Trio of artists present a journey of post-minimalism". Ithaca Times. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  4. ^ a b "Art celebrates Asian-American History Month". Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Ethereal Hair Sculptures". Infringe. 2019-01-08. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  6. ^ ""Fire in the Belly" at Burnette Gallery in Woodstock - Hudson Valley One". 2018-10-11. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  7. ^ a b c d "What to do this Week in the Hudson Valley". Chronogram Magazine. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  8. ^ "'Queens Envisioning Habitats': Korean-American artists exhibit collaborative art". Blasting News. 2017-12-12. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  9. ^ a b c "Honorary Reporters". honoraryreporters.korea.net. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  10. ^ a b "It's Getting Hairy". Raandoom. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  11. ^ a b Meier, Allison (2016-05-04). "New Portal Art Fair Fails to Make the Most of a Lower Manhattan Landmark". Hyperallergic. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  12. ^ Davis, Ben (2016-05-03). "Portal Art Fair Lets in Promising New Voices". Artnet News. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  13. ^ a b "Bronx Calling: The Fourth AIM Biennial". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  14. ^ "ArtsWestchester Triennial Artists Express Meaning Through Process". White Plains, NY Patch. 2018-07-09. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  15. ^ a b c d Hall, Kathryn (2017-11-03). ""Future Fabrication: Innovation in the information age"". Surface design Journal: 10.
  16. ^ Shuster, Robert (2010-07-20). "Tim Hawkinson's 'One Man Band'; Michael Alan's 'Harmonious Opposites'". The Village Voice. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  17. ^ Schwartzman, Madeline (2020-02-05). See Yourself X: Human Futures Expanded. London, United Kingdom.: Black Dog Press Limited. pp. 28–29. ISBN 978-1910433225.
  18. ^ Schwartzman, Madeline (2016-11-14). "Pioneering new standards of beauty". CNN. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  19. ^ Lee, A. C. (2013-12-12). ""Art on Staten Island"". The New York Times.
  20. ^ Marston-Reid, Linda. "Artists explore big ideas in small works in 'Far & Wide' at Woodstock museum". Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  21. ^ a b Cascone, Sarah (2017-09-01). "The Island of Emerging Art: Governors Island Nourishes Rising Talents With Its Latest Art Fair". Artnet News. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  22. ^ "Announcing the 2023 Joan Mitchell Fellows". Joan Mitchell Foundation. 2023-08-22. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  23. ^ "The 2020 AHL Artist Fellowship Recipients Exhibition". AHL Foundation. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  24. ^ Selvin, Claire (2018-08-29). "MacDowell Colony Awards Fellowships to 87 Artists". ARTnews.com. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  25. ^ Kapplow, Heather (2018-07-27). "Perceiving in Detail: Jayoung Yoon". Women's Studio Workshop. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  26. ^ BRIC Media Artist Fellowship 2014. 2014-11-06. Retrieved 2024-09-21 – via YouTube.
  27. ^ "List of Fund Winners 1985-2021". Franklin Furnace. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  28. ^ "Alumni 2010-2020". Millay Arts. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  29. ^ "Jayoung Yoon - MacDowell Fellow in Visual Arts". MacDowell. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  30. ^ "Jayoung Yoon (2017)". Saltonstall. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  31. ^ "A Sense of Place". I-Park Foundation. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  32. ^ "Jayoung Yoon". SCULPTURE SPACE. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  33. ^ Eliano, Liza (2010-07-07). "Rewind to Summer 2009!". Art F City. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  34. ^ "Perceiving Emptiness' Exhibit Features Artwork with Human Hair". www.hacc.edu. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  35. ^ "Past Exhibitions 2019". San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  36. ^ "Don't Touch My Hair". Hannah Traore Gallery. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  37. ^ "Interlacement: A Group Exhibition". The Korea Society. 2021-09-30. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  38. ^ "The Day After". Culture House. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  39. ^ "Hair: Textures of Belonging – Studio 3 Gallery". 2020-06-12. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  40. ^ Shutan, Suzan (2019-09-08). "Materialized". UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center.
  41. ^ "FI 2019 Exhibition – FiberArts Guild of Pittsburgh". fiberartspgh.org. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  42. ^ "Hand / Eye". form & concept gallery. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  43. ^ "Sutures". Marc Straus. September 8 – October 16, 2018. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  44. ^ "Multilayered: New Prints 2018/Summer". Print Center New York. 2018-08-16. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  45. ^ "ArtsWestchester 2018 Triennial". artswestchester.org. 2018-03-14. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  46. ^ "CICA Experimental Film and Video Exhibition Summer/Fall 2016: CICA 실험 영화 및 비디오 국제전 – 2016 여름/가을 – CICA". Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  47. ^ "Threaded". School of Visual Arts. July 5–29, 2016. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  48. ^ The 11th Busan International Video Art Festival. 2014-12-12. p. 16.
  49. ^ "East & West: Asian Influences on Contemporary American Craft". Ohio Designer Craftsmen. 2013-08-19. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  50. ^ "Sacred Vision, Separate Views : Contemporary Buddhist Art - A Tibet House US Exhibition". Tibet House US. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  51. ^ 씨, 스페이스. "Past Exhibitions - space*c". spacec.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  52. ^ Staker, Brian. "Garfo Art Center: Containment". Salt Lake City Weekly. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  53. ^ Hayes, Melissa (2010-02-16). "Hair inspires exhibit at Jersey City Museum". nj. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  54. ^ "Collections". www.wofford.edu. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  55. ^ "Kimmel Permanent Collection". KHN Center for the Arts. 21 September 2024.
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