Inside the Studio

Miseon Yoon

Favorite material to work with?
I work with various hand-painted fabrics that I’ve created.

What themes do you pursue?
Unstable human emotions. People and animals around me that I can interact and share feelings with are a rich source of inspiration.

My works are records of the process of discovering parts of myself that have been hidden for a long time, feelings that arise during the process of cutting and attaching fabrics constantly.

How many years as an artist?
I have been creating paintings for a long time, because the only way to escape from the pain of the trauma from my family was through paintings.

Around 2005, I started designing clothes for myself, which was naturally connected to my current art work.

Where is your studio?
My studio is in Seoul in South Korea.

What was the best advice given to you as an artist?
From my best friend “Love yourself, and let’s start.”

Art school or self-taught?
I received a BFA at Hong-Ik Univ. in Seoul. I learnt the basics of fabrics at school, however I developed my own technique by myself.

Prefer to work with music or in silence?
I enjoy various kinds of music while working. These days I am so into cello.

What’s around the corner from your place?
There is a peaceful lake and park which I can walk around.

Where can we find you outside the studio?
Mostly, in a café or a bookstore. Sometimes I take a walk in a park near my place.

If you couldn’t be an artist, what would you do?
I would be an architect.

Day job?
I am a full-time artist. I do not have any other job.

What do you collect?
Books.

Favorite contemporary artist?
Anselm Kiefer, Thomas Schutte, Antony Gormely, Nam June Paik, Francis Bacon, Louise Bourgeois…

If you could only have one piece of art in your life, what would it be?
“The Two Brothers” by Picasso.

Who are your favorite writers?
Jean-Paul Sartre, Natsume Soseki, Marcel Proust.

Use anything other than paint?
I use hand-painted fabrics and threads.

Is painting dead?
Not at all. It is impossible.

Favorite brush?
I do not use brushes. My works are completed by sewing fabrics that I’ve painted with my hands.

Monet or Manet?
Manet.

Power-tools?
Sewing machine and scissors.

Ever get injured on the job?
I got my finger pricked once by the needle of sewing machine, and I have allergic Lhinitis and asthma because of the fabrics.