Today we’d like to introduce you to Yukin Zhang
Hi Yukin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I consider myself as normal as any other Chinese international kids: grew up in China, (my parents) realized that the environment back home is not for me, received some sorts of international education or practices, then arrived here in the U.S, adapting, trying to fit in, failed, found a few friends and grew apart from them, learn to grow independently, tried to find my goal and where I wanna be (metaphorically and geographically). What might be different is having very supportive parents in my passion and pursuit of fine arts, which I think is the biggest reason when I am here today. They never make me question whether doing fine arts is something reasonable or realistic, until maybe entering college when I had to think about my career path. They allow my relationship to art is healthy, subtle, but consistent, instead of treating it as any kind of oasis or means of rebellion. This, in a way, shapes my work/artistic style.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Even though I mentioned my relationship to fine arts is pretty subtle and I have had all the support I need, I don’t think any “road” can be considered as smooth. There are always self-doubt, hesitation, and pressure from external environment. For me, my biggest struggle is this constant fight between doing what I want to do, which is art, and what I need to do, especially when it comes to my status as a foreigner who want to stay here. Because there are certain things you need to obtain within a small timeframe in order to stay here, being an artist in someway makes the process harder. But to be honest, fighting/working with reality is something that makes arts interesting, because art is always rooted in reality.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
For now I am working with oil paintings, videos as installations. My works are always about human beings and how we should position ourselves in the worlds(human and nature). I focus on different perspectives periodically depending on what am I interested in now. For example at the beginning of 2024 I am really into systems, sciences, and body in a biological sense, and later I thought more about the psychological aspect of us, memory, and childhood trauma. But they all they to answer the big common theme of where do we sit, or how should we interact with the rest of the world. It is a focus that I slowly develop throughout my artistic journey, already something I am really proud of. For me being an artist means always be curious of myself and things around me, that allows me to try new things and thinks about new concepts, and never fixate one thing/style. I suppose this flexible and changeable nature is what sets me apart.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Throughout my process, my parents are definitely my greatest supporters. Other than them, my mentors, professors and other artistic friends who have inspired me and helped me develop my own style and narrative. In my last previous solo shows, our discussions, mental supports, and post-exhibit reflection have made me understand myself and this industry a lot better.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19fYgN6H38PsNw6q_cAWtj7OdlpRK9i4x?usp=sharing
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yukin_zhang/
- Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/yukiiin_art/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuqing-zhang-6490a6264/
Image Credits
Yukin Zhang
