Paper, Light, and Layers: Unveiling the Creative Journey of Young Shin from Fashion to Fine Art

Initiated and organized by The Bridge Arts Foundation, the 'Seeking Light' Global Young Artist Open-Call Exhibition is currently being held at Scholart Selection Gallery in San Gabriel, California, and will run until May 18th, 2024.

Bridge Arts Foundation's Art Director, Tia Xu, engaged in a conversation about the exhibition and art with several artists participating in this exhibition. In this interview, we have the pleasure of speaking with artist Young Shin.

 —— Q&A ——

Tia Xu: Could you please share your background and what inspired you to pursue a career in art?

Young Shin: My journey began when I started as a fashion designer in NYC after graduating from Parsons School of Design. Learning the craft as a fashion designer and patternmaker built the solid foundation for my career as a collage artist. Making garments from scratch begins with general shapes and mood of the garment, which is exactly what I do when I begin my collages – imagining, determining the story and the mood of the piece, and sketching.  Next step in garment construction is draping muslin on a dress form, from the general contour building to specifics; upon which transferring the marks from the muslin onto making a technical pattern on paper from which sewing the sample of the garment results.  Similarly, in making collages, I begin with general contours and shapes; build up the layers of paper; and delayer the marked areas and mold them into certain shapes, forms, and texture. In doing so, I even continue to utilize and implement several garment construction tools such as transfer paper, marker, chalks, etc. Naturally, I believe it is the background in fashion that led me to the progression into my own unique visual art practice which is now defined by the blend of craftsmanship, creativity, and style. ­I continue to enjoy these aspects of my artmaking and process which seamlessly navigate between traditional art, craft, and design, reminding me and the viewers that art is truly a multisensory experience.

Young Shin’’s Artwork. Photo courtesy of artist.

Tia Xu: What does “Seeking Light” mean to you, and how does your artwork explore this theme? Can you tell us the story behind your artwork from the exhibition?

Young Shin: In creating “What’s Cracked Up to Be,” I was inspired by the mercurial, tenuous, and ethereal nature of the nighttime and its gradual and graceful transition into the light – which to me, is akin to perpetually oscillating human experience between vulnerability and resilience. As such, this black and white collage explores the theme of “seeking light” with intricately weaved delineation of the moon across cracked surfaces and reflections represented by the stripped and ripped pieces of paper. Amidst the shattered and fragmented objects, the moon emerges behind with its serene glow, offering gleaming hope and illuminating light. Accordingly, this collage is meant to implore viewers to embrace their imperfections and brokenness, recognizing that within the cracks and darkness lies exponential growth and transformation, and to gently remind us that the dawn is imminent. 

Bridge Arts Foundation's "Seeking Light" Open Call Exhibition Installation View, Photo: © The Scholart Selection / Luna Hao

Young Shin_what's cracked up to be. Photo courtesy of artist.

Tia Xu: What materials and techniques do you prefer to use in your art, and could you explain your choices?

Young Shin: All my pieces are made with paper and glue on canvases and wood panels. The process of creating entails applying several layers of paper onto a canvas or wood surface in general; then the very layers are sanded and peeled to reveal new layers underneath. The materials, simply paper and glue, is the foundation of my art, as creating a tactile and visceral experience of art making and forming an intimate connection between my work and audience is of paramount importance to me as an artist. The texture is often rich and multi-dimensional, inviting viewers to see and to feel the physical and emotional depth of the pieces. Sometimes the surfaces are stripped, leaving marks, and sometimes they are left soft and serene. Some are colorful, some are neutral and muted. But what they all have in common is my intention for creating them: to allude to the fleeting nature of time, ethereality, and ephemerality of life, and thus, the desire to capture and appreciate every moment for what it is and as it is. I find that utilizing paper as the main material best articulates my intention since my collages’ appeal is in the emotive tactility. 

Young Shin’’s Artwork. Photo courtesy of artist.

Tia Xu: Can you describe challenging moment or obstacles you’ve encountered during your artistic journey and how you successfully overcame it?

Young Shin: Not coming from traditional fine arts background, just getting my work out to collectors and galleries has been challenging and tricky. In today’s art world, it is no secret that artists play vital roles in marketing their own art. Most of the times, I like that I am an introvert; this aspect allows me to ponder and create work in the studio for an extended period without feeling depleted and lonely. Unfortunately, while immensely helpful in the process of creativity, this introverted inclination is not at all helpful when it comes to capturing opportunities to show and market my own work with ease. In fact, I often dread it - to my detriment. Fortunately, working with professionals such as galleries, art advisory groups, and interior designers alleviates this pain point and pressure a bit.  Nonetheless, this is a ­­­­challenge for me, and an area where I constantly try to improve, as I recognize the ability to effectively market one’s work is as important as creating an appealing body of work.

Young Shin’’s Artwork. Photo courtesy of artist.

Tia Xu: Are there any other series that you’re currently working on? Would you mind shareing them with us?

Young Shin: I just started to work on my current series called “Intense Relevance” this spring. As an artist, I’m always looking for a visual theme and narrative that can be universally felt and shared – something we all have in common, something that can connect us all. Hence, in this new body of work - drawing from personal experiences, societal and cultural observations, and introspective reflections - I delve into the intricate layers of close human relationships, exploring the profound and tumultuous dynamics and of boundaries that shape our interactions with one another as well as establishment of selfhood. Each piece in this series serves as a visual exploration of the complexities, contradictions, and emotional struggles and joy inherent in the bonds we form with people around us. Overall, I confront the nuanced tension that defines the tenuous balance between intimacy and autonomy, and reliance and self-preservation. Through the placement of layers of paper, I aim to capture such inherent tension, negotiation and connection that exist within close bonds. Throughout the series, I invite viewers to contemplate the universality and the oxymoronic impossibility of harmony between intimacy and individual agency.

Young Shin’’s Artwork. Photo courtesy of artist.

ABOUT OPEN CALL EXHIBITION PROGRAM

Bridge Arts Foundation's "Seeking Light" Open Call Exhibition Installation View, Photo: © The Scholart Selection / Luna Hao

Bridge Arts Foundation's Open Call Exhibition Program is designed to provide support for early-career artists. The "Seeking Light" Open Call Exhibition has thoughtfully selected 18 talented artists from a pool of over 500 submissions, employing a selection process that involves art professionals. "Seeking Light" opens from April 20th to May 18th, 2024.

ABOUT ARTIST

YOUNG SHIN

Education
Parsons The New School for Design, New York, NY, Assoc. of Applied Science Loyola University School of Law, Chicago, IL, J.D.
Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA, B.A.

Exhibitions

2022 – Henry Sheldon Museum, Artists in the Archives, Middlebury, Vermont, USA 2021 – Lee & Lee Gallery, Group Show, Los Angeles, California, USA
2021 – ShockBoxx Gallery, Women Artists Group Show, Virtual show on Artsy 2020 – ShockBoxx Gallery, “Minimalism,” Hermosa Beach, California, USA

2020 – RedArtBox Gallery, Group Show, Los Angeles, California, USA
2020 – Arts Benicia, “Get the Message: Words and Images,” Benicia, California, USA
2020 – Art Room Gallery, “Skies,” Virtual Exhibition
2020 – Blue Line Arts, “Craft Nouveau,” Roseville, California, USA
2020 – Gallery House, Group Show, Palo Alto, California, USA
2019 – San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, “Form and Function: Fiber Arts for the 21st Century,” San Jose, California, USA
2019 – Orangeland Gallery, “Double Yellow,” San Francisco, California, USA
2019 – Village Theatre Art Gallery, “Into the Blue,” Danville, California, USA
2019 – Open I Art Space, “Time,” Santa Barbara, California, USA
2019 – Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, “Craft Revolution,” Santa Ana, California, USA
2019 – Linus Gallery, “Innocence,” Online Exhibition, Pasadena, California, USA
2018 – Pacific Art League, “1st Annual Artist Showcase,” Palo Alto, California, USA
2018 – SoLA Gallery, “Interplay: Craft, Art & Design,” Los Angeles, California, USA
2018 – Pacific Art League, “97th Anniversary Exhibition,” Palo Alto, California, USA
2018 – Art Escape, “Elevating Your Cause,” Sonoma, California, USA
2018 – Adobe Art Gallery, “The View From Here,” Castro Valley, California, USA
2017 – 1337 Gallery, “Paper as Voice,” San Rafael, California, USA
2017 – LA Art Guide, “Embrace our Animals,” online gallery
2017 – International Gallery of the Arts, “The Many Expressions of Love,” online gallery

Publications

2023 – Canvas Rebel Magazine, Stories & Insights, Featured Artist 2023 – Shout Out LA, Local Stories, Featured Artist
2023 – Voyage LA Magazine, Inspiring Stories, Featured Artist
2022 – Art Seen Magazine, Issue #6, November 2022, Featured Artist 2022 – Artistonish Magazine, Issue #22, May 2022, Featured Artist 2022 – Saatchi Art, New Perspectives Catalog 2022, Featured Artist 2021 – Saatchi Art, Spring Catalog 2021, Featured Artist

2020 – Saatchi Art, “Perpetual Optimist,” Featured Artwork as curated by Saatchi Art
2020 – Saatchi Art, “Contemplated Wildchild – One,” Featured Artwork as curated by Saatchi Art
2020 – Saatchi Art, “This, Too, Shall Pass,” Featured Artworks as curated by Saatchi Art
2020 – Art Habens Art Review, Featured Artist
2020 – TWIRL, A Decade of Artist Interviews
2020 – Saatchi Art, “My, Myself, and I,” Featured Artwork as curated by Saatchi Art
2020 – Hopper Prize, Finalist: https://hopperprize.org/young-shin/
2019 – Saatchi Art, “I Go Where You Go,” Featured Artwork as curated by Saatchi Art
2019 – Art San Diego, Awarded “Best New Exhibitor” by Art San Diego
2019 – Young Shin: Painting Without Paint, The MPI Media: https://mpweixin.qq.com/s/UcfMEg3YYjFNtFxvxAjlpg
2019 – Create! Magazine, Featured Artist
2019 – Murze Magazine, Minimalism Edition, 2019, Featured Artist
2019 – Salann Magazine, Featured Artist
2018 – Apero Gallery, “Awaken,” Featured Artist

Residencies

Collagists in the Archives, Kolaj Magazine and Stewart-Swift Research Center at the Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History, 2022

Selected Public Art

UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay, San Francisco, CA, 2024 Nobu Hotels, Jersey City, NJ, 2023
Murrieta Hot Springs Resort, Murrieta, CA
Four Seasons Hotels, Las Vegas, NV, 2023

Winston & Strawn LLP, Redwood City, CA, 2023 Henry Sheldon Museum, Middlebury, VA, 2022

Art Fairs
2019 – Art San Diego, San Diego, San Diego Convention Center, California, USA 2019 – The Other Art Fair, Santa Monica, Barker Hangar, California, USA
2019 – The Other Art Fair, Los Angeles, Magic Box at The Reef, California, USA