Yina Hwang : Artist Statement

Yina Hwang Artist Statement

Yina Hwang

Integrative Seminar 2: Fashion

Professor Eric Wilson

14 May 2015

Artist Statement

        I lived in South Korea and Canada when I was in elementary school, and then I moved to China to study. Since I was young, I have been traveling to many different countries with my dad- China, Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam, Mexico, Nigeria, etc – due to his fabric and clothing business and I traveled with him to study in China for 7 years. Traveling allowed me to get acquainted with Korean, Chinese, and western cultures to make me who I am today. My mother majored in theater performance. Her performance is very unique and she required a wide variety of stage costume. My father was always working with fabric when I visited his business, and I always helped my mother create her stage costumes. Such environment provided great influence on me to pursue fashion design.

        I don’t simply attempt to express what I see. I use various expression methods from concept. Such attempts allowed me to find my own expression methods and learn valuable lessons. I now try to express the subjective perception of each object, rather than applying color through an objective observation. My internal expression – dependent not on observation, but imagination – became a very useful tool for me. I try to apply what I see around me. I feel the energy of the people in streets and also get inspiration through nature. I think it is very important to find what is ‘mine’. I take direct or indirect experiences from my daily life and use it as a concept for my work.

        There is no limit to our imagination. Therefore, there is no limit to art and fashion design. I am looking forward to expressing myself in New York, and throughout the world.