Whether jiving to the beat of solo life, or waltzing gracefully with fellow dance partners, the honest musicality of Younseon’s subjects makes a refreshing statement in today’s superficial world.

Younseon is often inspired by the daring color combinations of Matisse. Before immersing in the creative process, she casts her mind back to a memorable encounter and selects a color scheme that reflects the sights, sounds, and sensations of the moment. She then fleshes out the planes and lines of her piece with rough brushes and a spontaneous sense of physicality. As someone who refuses to paint conventionally pretty, picture-perfect portraits, she subverts mainstream standards of beauty and brings to life the idiosyncratic charms of her imaginary dancers.

She is also influenced by the bizarre facial and bodily forms of Modigliani as well as the simplicity of Picasso’s lines. In her exaggerated style, she enlarges the body size of her subjects so as to evoke a feeling of empathy and contain their enormous hearts. With hefty frames intertwined, her characters free each other from the hardships of everyday life.

Like a child, Younseon sits in front of the blank canvas in inflated anticipation. With a vivacious jig and a clumsy embrace, she shares with her audience a rare capacity for intimacy, tenderness, and love. Awkward at first glance yet brimming with warmth beneath the surface, her light-hearted creations are guaranteed to leave a larger than life impression on people’s lives.

Dancing with the Sun (2020). Oil on Canvas. 53 x 65cm.

Pink Tree (2020). Oil on Canvas. 53 x 45cm.

Fresh Dream (2020). Oil on Canvas. 55 x 46cm.

A Fantastic Couple. (2020). Oil on Canvas. 23 x 16cm.

Together (2020). Oil on Canvas. 54 x 65cm.

Partners (2020). Oil on Canvas. 55 x 46cm.

Discover more of Younseon’s works in Issue 3 of our magazine!