B.1997, Born in Korea
Lives and works in Seoul, South Korea
Yejin Oh reflects on human identity, the inner self, and life itself, seeking to convey these messages through painting. Her practice embodies the entirety of her struggles with mental illness, particularly anxiety and obsession. The compulsive method of layering paint becomes a way of capturing the complexity of the self, while expressing the desire to overcome these struggles. Within this process, blue plays a crucial role. It is a colour that traditionally conveys calm and serenity, yet simultaneously evokes unease and melancholy. The artist believes that all humans carry these ambivalent emotions within, and by drawing the invisible blue of the inner self outwards onto the surface, she makes those feelings tangible. This exploration becomes a way of revealing- or at times concealing -the hidden aspects of life. For her, painting thus functions as a vital tool for healing and for finding a reason to live.