Inside the Studio
Jessy Cho
What are the major themes you pursue in your work?
My abstract works are how I respond to feelings of nostalgia, longing for my childhood, and solitude. Maybe this is my greeting for the future.
The space between the subject and the non-subject is very important in my paintings. Sometimes the white space tells you more than the subject can. I am very careful on the composition of the lines, angles and thickness of paint layers, as well as the combination of paint, yarn and fabric.
Blue is my main color in my current works. Ironically, I don’t see much blue around me, rather I see a lot of grays and black when I walk down the New York streets. So the color blue has become my imaginary color.
What was the best advice given to you as an artist?
I haven’t received any yet. But I believe that art is not about the eye-catching nor the painting’ performance; it should be about something beyond that.
Prefer to work with music or in silence?
It can depend on my mood, and it ranges from classical music to heavy metal.
If you could only have one piece of art in your life, what would it be?
I would want one that gives me cravings.
Who are your favorite writers?
Wan-Seo Park. National Geographic
