Youngsheen A. Jhe
Artist Statement:
My work comes from my experience as a foreigner in the United States and Europe. I am trying to depict daily human life, juxtaposed with the shop window mannequins. Through this juxtaposition, I would like to describe the similarity between the lives of human beings and the inanimate mannequins. We have a tendency to be aloof with one another. We have become either too indifferent or superficial to see beyond appearances of others. All of us are seemingly stuck in own world.
But this similarity sometimes twists and turns into an irony; the intrinsic difference between the living humans and the lifeless mannequins begin to seem interchangeable. This irony is manifested in the world that we live in. Only things that seemingly await humans in dark streets are these mannequins displayed in show windows. They welcome and shine on people walking alone. Even if these people walk in their own confinements, these mannequins greet them. Mannequins seem to be becoming like the human beings or even like God’s presence or His love. Especially with recent series, I try to emphasize the interconnection between the world of humans and a world of mannequins and try to say people of this modern society through my paintings “You are loved”.
I am a Boston-based artist and have exhibited paintings in many national galleries. I have previously sold my entire Italy series to a single patron, and my entire Germany series to another collector, among many others who remain interested in my future works. I studied Studio Art at Brandeis University and received MFA from University of New Hampshire.
My work comes from my experience as a foreigner in the United States and Europe. I am trying to depict daily human life, juxtaposed with the shop window mannequins. Through this juxtaposition, I would like to describe the similarity between the lives of human beings and the inanimate mannequins. We have a tendency to be aloof with one another. We have become either too indifferent or superficial to see beyond appearances of others. All of us are seemingly stuck in own world.
But this similarity sometimes twists and turns into an irony; the intrinsic difference between the living humans and the lifeless mannequins begin to seem interchangeable. This irony is manifested in the world that we live in. Only things that seemingly await humans in dark streets are these mannequins displayed in show windows. They welcome and shine on people walking alone. Even if these people walk in their own confinements, these mannequins greet them. Mannequins seem to be becoming like the human beings or even like God’s presence or His love. Especially with recent series, I try to emphasize the interconnection between the world of humans and a world of mannequins and try to say people of this modern society through my paintings “You are loved”.
I am a Boston-based artist and have exhibited paintings in many national galleries. I have previously sold my entire Italy series to a single patron, and my entire Germany series to another collector, among many others who remain interested in my future works. I studied Studio Art at Brandeis University and received MFA from University of New Hampshire.
Artist Bio:
Youngsheen Ahn Jhe has an insatiable desire to depict the unfiltered story of everyday-humans through mannequins found commonly in show windows.
Her journey to becoming a celebrated artist is the story of a forgotten dream fulfilled. She was named the 2017 Artist of the Year by the Cambridge Art Association and her art world was featured on MATV's Gallery Spotlight.
When she was in preschool in South Korea, her teachers recognized her talent for art and recommended to her parents that she study art. Her parents repetitively said no, and she entered college to study science. She received a Master Degree of Science from Seoul National University and worked a variety of jobs as a writer before her husband’s work brought her to the US. After five years in the US she obtained her green card and began to pursue her forgotten dream, eventually obtaining her MFA in painting at the University of New Hampshire.
Jhe’s work has been most influenced by her experiences as a foreigner. Staying in Italy without knowing Italian, she realized the way in which people are seen as objects absent any communication, as she could not communicate with the locals. These experiences have inspired her current personal narrative involving objectified humans: the mannequins.
In her figurative and narrative oil paintings, through the contrast between the mannequins and humans, she depicts loneliness and isolation while questioning human interactions, nature and hope. Over time, this theme developed more focus on hope, warmth and love.
Jhe’s work has been featured in multiple shows and galleries, including numerous solo exhibitions. She has sold her entire Italy series to a single patron, and her entire Germany series to another collector. She also published her article “Composition and Color” in “The Artist’s Working: Theory and Practice” journal.
Youngsheen Ahn Jhe has an insatiable desire to depict the unfiltered story of everyday-humans through mannequins found commonly in show windows.
Her journey to becoming a celebrated artist is the story of a forgotten dream fulfilled. She was named the 2017 Artist of the Year by the Cambridge Art Association and her art world was featured on MATV's Gallery Spotlight.
When she was in preschool in South Korea, her teachers recognized her talent for art and recommended to her parents that she study art. Her parents repetitively said no, and she entered college to study science. She received a Master Degree of Science from Seoul National University and worked a variety of jobs as a writer before her husband’s work brought her to the US. After five years in the US she obtained her green card and began to pursue her forgotten dream, eventually obtaining her MFA in painting at the University of New Hampshire.
Jhe’s work has been most influenced by her experiences as a foreigner. Staying in Italy without knowing Italian, she realized the way in which people are seen as objects absent any communication, as she could not communicate with the locals. These experiences have inspired her current personal narrative involving objectified humans: the mannequins.
In her figurative and narrative oil paintings, through the contrast between the mannequins and humans, she depicts loneliness and isolation while questioning human interactions, nature and hope. Over time, this theme developed more focus on hope, warmth and love.
Jhe’s work has been featured in multiple shows and galleries, including numerous solo exhibitions. She has sold her entire Italy series to a single patron, and her entire Germany series to another collector. She also published her article “Composition and Color” in “The Artist’s Working: Theory and Practice” journal.
