Meet HYUNJUN YANG

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to HYUNJUN YANG. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

HYUNJUN, we are so appreciative of you taking the time to open up about the extremely important, albeit personal, topic of mental health. Can you talk to us about your journey and how you were able to overcome the challenges related to mental issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.

I am suffering from severe obsessive-compulsive disorder and minor depression. But still, I can wake up in 6 am to go to gym, then head to studio and work on the project. I simply use one mind controlling method my therapist taught me. By postponing thinking about the idea that make me anxious. Instead of think about those ideas right now, imagine myself putting those ideas in the self in my head and eventually forget about it. Even if those ideas pop up again in my head, It would not be as intense as it was.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Hi. My name is Hyunjun. I am 26 years old and from Seoul, South Korea. I am visual artist based in New York. I create grotesque underground imagery to explore the complicated mind of mine. My art journey started at the lowest point of my life. I was suffering from extreme O.C.D after going through infamous Korean education system. Even after I made it to collage like I dreamed since elementary school, my mind already became mess by stress. Then I visited Frida Kahlo Exhibition and saw how Frida Kahlo visualizes her pain into paintings. That day, I started to sketch twisted and wounded being to visualize what was going on in my head.

My art projects are based on what makes me upset of annoyed. For example, how my phycological struggle annoys me or how politicians in South Korea annoys me. When I get negative feelings by those things, grotesque images pop up in my head. Then I go ahead and try my best to visualize it.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

One thing I always crave when it comes to art is quality. As an artist who is not skillful when it comes to handy work, quality is always something I always chase and put the extra care in my art journey. Even if an artwork contains great idea and thoughts, mediocre quality art may fail to reach viewer’s heart. Even though superior quality is missing in my art yet, I eventually will find it and I believe it will be my turning point in my career.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, I lie down. After lie down for more than half an hour, the overwhelming feeling is gone and only thing left in my mind is the fact that I lied down and did nothing. Which force myself to go back to do whatever I was doing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yhj1997arts.com
• Instagram: @y.hyunjun1997.archive

Image Credits

Hyunjun Yang