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Painting (MA)

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

School of Arts & Humanities

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

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.

Medium:

acrylic on translucent paper

Size:

176x226cm
The light upon us 184x222cm acrylic on translucent paper

The light upon us 184x222cm acrylic on translucent paper — 2020

The light upon us 184x222cm acrylic on translucent paper

The light upon us 184x222cm acrylic on translucent paper — 2020

I have recently felt powerless and out of control because of unforeseen situations around me. Nevertheless, I think about the image of a glimmer of hope that I have held on to during this time: cooking and enjoying meals at home with my beloved husband. With this, I see a small flame of faith. Such seemingly mundane moments help me realise that these are the most important things in my life; the goals that I have been pursuing become vanity and fantasy. I keep imagining that a slice of light would quietly descend and cover everything with warmth, hoping that something beautiful will emerge from the darkness.

Medium:

acrylic on translucent paper

Size:

184x222cm
Awakening the sleeping tiger 83 5x119cm acrylic on translucent paper

Awakening the sleeping tiger 83 5x119cm acrylic on translucent paper — 2019

Awakening the sleeping tiger 83 5x119cm acrylic on translucent paper

Awakening the sleeping tiger 83 5x119cm acrylic on translucent paper — 2019

2019

Medium:

acrylic on translucent paper

Size:

83.5x119cm
The birth of cryptos; imaginary bugs 99x159cm acrylic on translucent paper

The birth of cryptos; imaginary bugs 99x159cm acrylic on translucent paper — 2019

The birth of cryptos; imaginary bugs 99x159cm acrylic on translucent paper

The birth of cryptos; imaginary bugs 99x159cm acrylic on translucent paper — 2019

The birth of cryptos; imaginary bugs 99x159cm acrylic on translucent paper

The birth of cryptos; imaginary bugs 99x159cm acrylic on translucent paper — 2019

I once had a dream that people discovered a legion of a new bug species beneath the rocks in a place that seemed like archaeological ruins. The bugs all radiated in green. When people ate these bugs, their mouths would open and they could suddenly tell prophesies, speaking in unknown languages.
These bugs were called something like ‘Clyptoes’, which I spelled based on what I heard in the dream. I googled this spelling and found there was a similar sounding word, ‘Crypto’, which is defined as concealed, secret, or a person who adheres or belongs secretly to a party, sect, or other group. With this, I changed the spelling from Clyptoes to Cryptos so that it would make more sense.

Medium:

acrylic on translucent paper

Size:

99x159cm
Harmony 128.5x148cm acrylic on translucent paper

Harmony 128.5x148cm acrylic on translucent paper — 2019

Harmony 128.5x148cm acrylic on translucent paper

Harmony 128.5x148cm acrylic on translucent paper — 2019

Different emotions come into play when humorous tumor characters, such as representing pain and joy as contrasting feelings dancing together in a larger narrative of works. The ritual self-act shifted to the ceremonial harmony, this ridiculous ritual harmony is ongoing. I was concerned about how believers would interpret the same theology in different ways. While our personal prejudices are intertwined with our own life experiences, I still hope that all of us will choose the right way in the end hence we will never really know. Despite the conflict among us, we still strive to live harmoniously.

Medium:

acrylic on translucent paper

Size:

128.5x148cm
Embrace 111x159cm acrylic on translucent paper

Embrace 111x159cm acrylic on translucent paper — 2020

Embrace 111x159cm acrylic on translucent paper

Embrace 111x159cm acrylic on translucent paper — 2020

Embrace sketch 7.2x25.5cm

Embrace sketch 7.2x25.5cm — 2020

2020

Medium:

acrylic on translucent paper

Size:

111x159cm
Fluid morning 157x109.2cm acrylic on translucent paper

Fluid morning 157x109.2cm acrylic on translucent paper — 2020

Fluid morning 157x109.2cm acrylic on translucent paper

Fluid morning 157x109.2cm acrylic on translucent paper — 2020

There is a large window in my kitchen which faces our living-room. The sunshine spreads like a piece of paper, and the engravings cast shadow drawings on to the floor. This beautiful simmering moment embraces me in hope and regenerates my day from last nights worries.

Medium:

acrylic on translucent paper

Size:

157x109.2cm
On the day of reckoning 109x146cm acrylic on translucent paper

On the day of reckoning 109x146cm acrylic on translucent paper

On the day of reckoning 109x146cm acrylic on translucent paper

On the day of reckoning 109x146cm acrylic on translucent paper

2020

Medium:

acrylic on translucent paper

Size:

109x146cm
A dog will lick up the blood

A dog will lick up the blood — 2020

2019-2020

Medium:

Drawing pen on paper

Size:

7.2x25.5cm
Obscurity

Obscurity — 2019

A spinning head

A spinning head — 2019

2019

Medium:

Drawing pen, pencil on paper.

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