Today we would like to introduce you to Justin Yoon, a Brooklyn based painter who was born in Los Angeles and grew up both in LA and Bundang, South Korea. Early childhood memories of American junk food, late night old Hollywood movies on the TV, and listening to jazz in the car with his family on long drives significantly affected him to create a world of romantic melancholia, synthetic colors, and casual lostness of being.
With no specific emotions provoked, the group of characters reoccur over and over in a deeply synthetic yet ambiguous dream-like landscape, continuing on this never ending “Highschool Reunion”. The viewer becomes a part of this experience, which is vaguely both universal yet deeply personal. These three characters represent a certain glamorous queer Asian idolatry as well; By glamorizing such figures in a hyper masculine and feminine visual, they become a symbol of sensual intimacy within oneselves, especially as Asian Queer characters.
Justin, thank you for taking the time to speak with me. Could you introduce yourself to our readers?
Hello, I am an artist based in Brooklyn, NY. I have been here since 2010 creating artworks in relation to queer themes (Especially Queer Platonic romantic relationships such as your chosen family), Asian identities, Nostalgia, (especially idealized nostalgia) and fleetingness of moments in time, all captured in a camp, romanticized lens. I was born in LA in 1991, and moved to South Korea around when I was 6, and grew up there until I moved to NY in 2010.
What is a regular day like?
Usually I wake up early as I am an early bird, go to the gym, and then come back and make espresso and start working on my pieces. I work throughout the day until I go to bed on and off, as it is a very fluid structure of living with my work most of my week.
Can we explore your unique painting style and the inspiration behind your practice?
I think my painting style naturally happened over the years. I always loved the specific colors I used since I was a child, and have been using them- developing more and more over the years. I am inspired a lot by old Hollywood movies that I watched growing up, Jazz music, TV shows and movies and books, as I am heavily inspired by narratives. Also many graphic novels and comics both from the west and Asia inspired me a lot as well.
I moved to Korea from LA when I was 6, and that move was detrimental to my identity as I started forming these idealized memories of LA and growing up in the West coast of the States, especially fueled by movies, TV shows, and even the game The Sims.
All of this experience, mixed with the yearning of not seeing the Asian Queer imagery I wished to see growing up, (where we are portrayed as a hyper fem/masc idealized queer imagery which always has excluded Asians) pushed me to create these characters I repeat over and over in my works as if they are in a on going TV show or a movie or a graphic novel- where Queer Asians are portrayed as such glamorized idols of Queer imagery.
How do you choose the subjects and scenes for your paintings?
I created the 4 characters, Marge, Blue Dream, Fivepounds, Machoman Park, naturally over the years, to create an on-going loose narrative where they continue this never ending high school reunion. I wanted the viewers to look at these imagery and feel a sudden level of familiarity as if they are seeing their comfort TV shows they grew up watching, or a favorite movie they rewatch over and over- this way even with the over saturated, glamorized imagery of my work, it starts to pertain a particular universality where you feel a fictionalized nostalgia, to a world where the viewers belong as if they are part of the gang.
What does your creative process look like, from start to finish?
It will be hard to go into details as it varies from piece to piece, but usually, I get an idea. and I do it. I can describe it as catching a fish from a deep purple ocean of thoughts and ideas and unconsciousness and randomness in my head, and then I do a very rough small sketch on a sketchbook, and then immediately go to painting. I don’t plan out the scene too much, (although sometimes I do depending on the piece) as I don;t usually use reference images, and paint like I would be drawing a graphic novel, out of my head. It is a very fluid process.
Who are some of your favorite artists/critical influences?
Film director Richard Linklater is my biggest influence, Especially for his works “Before Sunset”, and “Dazed and Confused”. Also Wes Anderson’s work has been a big influence as well. Other big influences would be Chet Baker, Sofia Coppola, Elizabeth Peyton, DAvid Lynch, Yoon Ki Lee’s “My Dear Enemy”, Azuma Kiyohiko’s “Azumanga Daioh”, Daniel Clowes, (especially “Ghost World”), Daniel Johnston, Jim Davis’ Garfield and more.
What keeps you motivated and interested in your work?
I think it is just a way for me to stay alive. If I don’t think about my world and my narratives and the characters I create, I feel very depressed. It is a way to live for me, to be so emotionally connected to this fictional world I am creating, and being in it as much as I am aware of its fictitiousness.
How do you see your work affecting societal issues and contributing to a dialogue?
I hope it makes people feel the transient nature of being with the fleeting moments and time, and that it affects them to look back on their own life and memories and choices. Also hope for more Queer Asian representation, especially empowering us within this community and part of humanity, and being able to see Queer Asians as just as glamorous and idealized as other queer figures that has been done for decades. I hope my imagery can invoke that, and create more exposure to the beauty and camp of our Asianess, just like the beautiful irrelevance of every queer life which is also universal beyond just queer beings.
Name one of the most memorable reactions regarding your work.
When people see themselves in my pieces, that is always the most memorable. Few times, people told me they never see themselves in art and that they did, and thanked me. Those moments are memorable.
What simple pleasures bring you alive?
Painting, Espressos, Movies, Music, Birds Chirping, Sunsets, long walks.
What does success mean to you?
To be content with myself being in the moment, in the present.
What does being original or unique in the arts mean?
Every art is original and unique in their own way to their creator, if they feel that way. It is an expression of self. I can’t judge which is not.
What do you dream about?
Everything and every random thing. Mostly memories and moments in life that are forever gone.
What are you reading now, and do you have a favorite film?
My favorite film of all time is Richard Linklater’s “Before Sunset”. I am currently reading “East Goes West” by Younghill Kang.