Yun-Ah Seo

Yunah Seo (b.1988) was born in Seoul, South Korea. She received her BFA from the painting programme of Seoul Women University, South Korea and will be completing her MFA from the painting programme of the Royal College of Art in July 2020. She won the ‘Artist of Tomorrow’ award given by the MISOOL SIDAE art magazine and has had a solo exhibition at AKA Space, South Korea. She has likewise had group exhibitions at the Gallery Jung South Korea, 508 gallery, Safe House1, and the Unit1 gallery workshop the UK.

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Degree Details

Painting (MA)

I collect inner reactions relating to personal circumstances, comprising of beliefs, emotions, perceptions, philosophy, and creation. I thereafter look into how all of these apply in real life in an attempt to express spiritual reactions to physical reflections.

Inner reactions to personal circumstances such as conflicts of layered systems as required by society and theological belief. Although not having reached definitive conclusions, I have had a glimpse at the interplay that exists which I cannot explain well: images and narratives, wandering in a midst of clear recognition and chaotic confusion.

I rummage through these images and narratives piece by piece, relying on emotional responses and attempts at spiritual questioning. My works encompass debris from events in my own life; sorting through these things takes up a month or more, and become different kind of images. These images are signs that point out intuitive thoughts which have matured over time—like water overflowing from a glass.

These images live vividly in my mind, reflect my reality, and have lead to the spiritual narratives that I now impart. They wander in a grey zone between recognition and subconscious—a space somewhat beyond my own control. I endeavour to reveal them in order to share what I am engrossed with at a given moment. Developing intuitive insight into an otherwise mundane life may help provide answers to some of the mysteries that occupy my practice.

The storm brings light 173x226cm acrylic on translucent paper — 2020

When people are self-centred for their own ends, they barely know what they are doing. I am guilty of this as well. The tumorous figures in my new painting reflect twisted, confused, and wounded soul distortions—to be a monster yet not enough to be a human, in the middle of these two states—with bright light falling down softly and embracing them in the dark. Likewise, the dark clouds bring a downpour that regenerates life and cleanses things—perhaps sinfulness—until the light shows the face. The blessing is hidden in the hardship. It is sealed from those who refuse it, but revealed to those who seek it.