Jin Young Yu (JYY): My works are about the “invisible people.” I wanted to talk about the stories of the people who said, “I definitely don’t know them, but they knew me so well. They said they worked with me for over a year. To me, that person was a transparent existence that neither did or didn’t exist.”
It was too simple to define them as “the alienated people” or “the depressed people”. Instead, I thought that I, or we, could easily be one of them. My works are about people who, instead of getting along with others, choose to keep a distance from them, and be invisible or be left alone unconcerned. Instead of trying to fit into the world, they climb into a space of their own and reject other people’s intrusions.
My works feign expressionless faces. They are holding their tears back and swallowing them, or they try to put on a cool face despite the traces of tears on their faces. Or simply, they seem to have something hiding behind the hurried pretense of their expressionless faces. Looks on their faces that don’t make people approach them with ease – a subtle look of suspicion and caution keeps others from easily approaching them.

YU Jinyoung b.1977 A family in disguise (Child 6), 2007 Pvc, mixed media 122 x 24 x 26 cm image © union-gallery.com

YU Jinyoung b.1977 A family in disguise (Child 8), 2008 Pvc, mixed media 115 x 25 x 23 cm image © union-gallery.com

YU Jinyoung b.1977 Welcome, 2008 Pvc, mixed media Variable dimensions ; image © union-gallery.com

YU Jinyoung b.1977 Welcome, 2007 Pvc, mixed media Variable dimensions; image © union-gallery.com

YU Jinyoung b.1977 Abundant Emptiness, 2006 Pvc, mixed media 167 x 35 x 25 cm; image © union-gallery.com

YU Jinyoung b.1977 Abundant Emptiness, 2005 Pvc, mixed media 158 x 36 x 27 cm; image © union-gallery.com

YU Jinyoung b.1977 A family in disguise (Adult and child), 2009 Pvc, mixed media Variable dimensions; image © union-gallery.com

YU Jinyoung b.1977 A family in disguise (child 5), 2009 Pvc, mixed media 100 x 25 x 23 cm; image © union-gallery.com

YU Jinyoung b.1977 A family in disguise (Adult 3), 2009 Pvc, mixed media 160 x 39 x 25 cm; image © union-gallery.com

“Myself / Them” Jin Young Yu Solo Exhibition September 19, 2014 – October 17, 2015 © artmergelab.com

“Myself / Them” Jin Young Yu Solo Exhibition September 19, 2014 – October 17, 2015 © artmergelab.com

“Myself / Them” Jin Young Yu Solo Exhibition September 19, 2014 – October 17, 2015 © artmergelab.com

“Myself / Them” Jin Young Yu Solo Exhibition September 19, 2014 – October 17, 2015 © artmergelab.com

“Myself / Them” Jin Young Yu Solo Exhibition September 19, 2014 – October 17, 2015 © artmergelab.com

“Myself / Them” Jin Young Yu Solo Exhibition September 19, 2014 – October 17, 2015 © artmergelab.com

“Myself / Them” Jin Young Yu Solo Exhibition September 19, 2014 – October 17, 2015 © artmergelab.com
This text is taken from and interview with Jin Young Yu on Arrested Motion . Take your time to read it.