Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Jung.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I didn’t have an awakening moment when I realized arts was my passion, nor did I ever dream of becoming an artist when I grew up. My answers to “What do you want to be when you grow up?” spanned from Olympic gymnast, firefighter, vet, doctor. Born in Seoul, South Korea, I quickly found my passion and talent for rhythmic gymnastics. Competing in national competitions at the age of six. Moving around a lot growing up in between Seoul and Laguna Niguel in Southern California, it was difficult to continue on with my gymnastics practice, but having this innate athleticism, I found myself diving into any and all sports. Really, anything that involved physical activity and bodily movement. I hated being static, sitting at a desk, watching TV, reading, being indoors. The only thing I could do that was stationary for more than an hour was coloring, building legos, creating something with random things I found in the house. It wasn’t until the passing of my dad when I was 17 that my interest in art, psychology, and ontology started to formulate the art practice I have today.
I applied to research-oriented universities with a BA in art and BA in psychology to give myself options to switch to other majors as “I figure myself out” in college. It was to my surprise I ended my college education with a BFA and (continuing to) delve deeper and deeper into my practice. In retrospect (this is the psychologist in me coming through analyzing myself every minute) where I am today, my art practice, and my vision for art therapy work all seem like a perfect step-by-step process. My past experiences, passion, trauma are all reflected in my practice today, which is changing and evolving day by day as I try to make sense and answer questions as to why I’m doing what I do today.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Every year in my art school, I considered dropping out or switching my major. Being an artist puts you in the most vulnerable position because we are sharing from within- who we are, our experiences, our trauma, and our emotions, at the risk of not being accepted, understood or appreciated. And living in such a capitalistic world where almost anything could be commodified, I was afraid. But it was in every moment my work influenced, questioned, challenged, and impacted someone’s life in the tiniest way (negative or positive) that kept me going. My practice is an ongoing visual representation of my process of answering questions I have about the world- healing and growing. I want to do the same for others.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Simply, I’m a multimedia artist. My work is at the intersection of performance, sculpture, video, photography, and ceramics. It’s really the modern art question of “where does the art begin, and where does it end?” The focus of my work for me, as the maker lies in the action-based process using materials like clay and plaster that have very strong memories and are malleable. Using these materials allows for the investigation of time and physical action. I then document that action through video, photo, or casting them in other materials as sculptural objects, which the audience sees. My work asks for the audience to imagine, ask questions, and challenge notions of ontology, as it deals with ephemeral concepts.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I love working with any and all creatives! I’m currently living and working in Brooklyn– DM me on Instagram, email me.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: tiffanyjung.com
- Instagram: j.tiffany
- Facebook: facebook.com/t.jung.yoora
- Other: https://vimeo.com/tjungyoora
