Woman in the Bath VI
ForHaejin Yoo, the path to becoming a full-time artist was full of curves.
And over the past seven years, she has honed her craft.
This affirmation that her work was going in the right direction has only bolstered Yoo’s confidence.
“Woman in the Bath VI”
Read on for My Modern Met’s exclusive interview.
How did art become a part of your life?
Art was a passion from a very young age, but life took me in a different direction.
Despite my stable career, I felt unfulfilled, and I started painting part-time at 25.
When my husband and I relocated to Europe, I saw an opportunity to finally commit to art full-time.
Each medium has its own strengthsacrylics dry quickly, while oil paints offer more flexibility.
“Woman in the Bath III” (detail)
My use of mixed media isnt necessarily about creative liberation but more about necessity.
I choose materials based on what best suits each piece.
Right now, Im focused on oil painting, refining my skills, and pushing my technical abilities further.
“Woman in the Bath III”
This transition has allowed me to explore richer textures and deepen my artistic expression.
Its a moment when my mind is at ease, and ideas seem to appear like an epiphany.
Once an idea strikes, I jot down notes and create quick sketches.
“Woman in the Bath III” (detail)
I then search through reference images, combining the ones Ive collected with my own photography.
This process ensures each piece is both deeply personal and structurally unique.
In the bath, I felt vulnerable, pondering my worth and existence.
“Woman in the Bath I”
The thick goo enveloping the figure represents the layers of these facades.
Building my own frames wasnt a planned artistic choiceit was a necessity.
Early in my career, I struggled financially, so I stretched my own canvases to cut costs.
“Woman in the Bath VIII”
Even a few millimeters off made a difference, and it drove me crazy.
To solve this, I designed a custom frame using skirting board wood from a hardware store.
Unexpectedly, this approach aligned perfectly with the introspective themes of myWoman in the Bathseries.
“Woman in the Bath X”
Woman in the Bath VI (detail)
What do you draw inspiration from?
Beyond that, I find inspiration in unexpected placesshort-form videos, slime-making clips, and sugar art demonstrations.
These seemingly simple, mesmerizing visuals influence the textures and compositions in my paintings.
“Woman in the Bath VII”
Inspiration isnt always grand or profound; sometimes, its found in the smallest, most ordinary moments.
Woman in the Bath V
Woman in the Bath IV
Whats next for you?
Ill be continuing theWoman in the Bathseries, which still has so much left to explore.
“Woman in the Bath X” (detail)
Additionally, Ive been studying figurative painting and plan to integrate more complex figures into my future pieces.
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“Woman in the Bath VI” (detail)
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“Woman in the Bath IV”
