01/23/2020
Interview of Artist Eunhye at RHAA by Yuqing Lao
--Yuqing: Congratulations on thesuccess of your ongoing exhibition Millennial Pink at the Research House ofAsian Art in Chicago and thank you for granting us your time for the interview!Your exhibition addresses the issue of sexual crimes targeting women in SouthKorea. Why are you drawn to this subject?
--Eunhye: This social issue has been controversial for a longtime. However, South Korea has been dealing with huge presidential scandals. Thegovernment of South Korea never raises awareness about the issues of sexualcrimes targeting women. In 2019, the society of South Korea faces a majorturning point regarding to race, sexual orientation and gender identity. Inother words, the millennial generation of South Korea is increasing publicawareness of multiculturalism, gender-neutral and gender equality. Art is oneof medium that people can easily absorb the subject matter. As I drawn thissocial issue into the form of art, I wanted to popularize the struggle forgender equality in South Korea. And this is the power of the art I believe.
--Yuqing: Why do you choose videoart as the communicative form to embody your art practice?
--Eunhye: I was born and raised in South Korea where still the culture and custom are conservative.My family and relatives especially, they tried to put me inside this box that Ionly have few choices of what I want to be and who I want to be. I wasfrustrating living under this circumstance. And the art was the escape to findthe real me. To me, I found freedom the most while I practice my art within theform of video art. Art is freedom to me.
--Yuqing: You mentioned “Millennial Pink is direct in its overtsexuality, creating a space to confront the serious social issue of gender andsexual inequality in South Korea”, could you elaborate on how does the exhibitioncreate space for tensions to be relieved?
--Eunhye: There are different forms of actions of raising awareness about social issues suchas speaking, writing and performing. And, art is another way of increasingawareness. So, bringing this social issue into the form of art was a big stepto me. I wanted Millennial Pink to be performed in a humorous way. Art reflectsthe artist-self. I’m a very humorous person. But, not only that reason, Iwanted to confront this social issue straightforwardly. As I use sexual desire,sexual inspired motion and gesture to face the social issues of sexual crimestargeting women in South Korea, Millennial Pink creates the sense ofcontradiction and this contradiction creates humor and a space for tensions tobe relieved.
--Yuqing: Does your video work “untitled(self-portrait), 2017” showing a three-dimensional paralleled private spacefloating on meadow connect to the exhibition theme?
--Eunhye: Untitled (self-portrait) was inspired by the idea that if an unidentifiedbeing – this can be a god, a human being and analien is watching my life, how does the form of my life look like? And Ifurther connected to this action of watching into the context of voyeurism.Hidden camera footages are often created by sexual pleasure from watchingothers. I always have different approaches to install Untitled (self-portrait). In Millennial Pink, I put works on CRTTVs on pedestals. Audience needs an action of bending over and watchingsomeone’s life through CRT TVs which creates a sense of voyeurism.
--Yuqing: In your video “use yourtongue” you used pixel and distorted images with sexual suggestiveness, couldyou please elaborate on that work and share your thoughts?
--Eunhye: The aesthetic choices of Use Your Tongueare inspired by po*******hy. P**n videos often put the mosaic on ge****ls. AndI was intriguing this idea of hiding certain part even in the video that ispurposefully created for sexual desires. This is one of my early video works.In my early works, I was mainly working on footages from video sharing website.My early works are more like digital form of collages.
--Yuqing: How can your fashionablephotography be read into the exhibition theme?
--Eunhye: Regarding photo project, I wanted to achieve the sense of confidence andseduction. In the photo studio, I was trying to capture the activeness from hermotion – when she was changing the clothes, when she was puttingher shoes again and so on. The clothes are very feminine, so I want more contrastingactions to it.
--Yuqing: What are your biggestinfluences or where are your artistic inspirations coming from?
--Eunhye: Surrealism. Since I waslittle, I was interested in the beginning and the end of the life further theground of consciousness and unconsciousness. I dreamed a lot. Sometimes eventhat dream influenced my reality as well. When I found and learn about surrealism,I felt like my enigmatic part of my life are combined into the one. It was sucha mesmerizing experience to me.
--Yuqing: As a professionalartist, what is your goal for the next five years?
--Eunhye: I want to be more active as an artist more that an art director in the company.Dedicating my time to be more as an artist. But If I have a chance within fiveyears, I want to have a female creative crew – performers, photographers andartists. Recently, I’ve collaborated with designer brand based in Seoul andSeoul-based musician. I found the joy of sharing experience, collaborating withpeople. It expands my perspective and I feel very alive and active. Honestly,I’m looking forward to seeing myself after five years. I will be better beingthan now. I believe in myself.
