You may initially mistake these JinYoung Yu sculptures as being tributes to mushroom-head characters from the Super Mario franchise, but closer examination reveals these enigmatic artworks to be far less cheerful.
Featuring melancholy child-like faces on transparent bodies, JinYoung Yu confronts viewers with expressions people use to mask their true feelings, while ultimately being hollow vessels on the inside. The eyes of these creations are very lifelike, despite their overall dollish aesthetic, and it makes it nearly impossible not to empathize with each statue. The material possessions and fashion apparel found on each sculpture is visually arresting, but they ultimately only hide the emptiness of Yu's creations. Some of her statues also have spare facial expressions which they can change into depending on social situations.
It’s pretty heavy stuff considering how cute each statue looks when quickly skimming through these pictures.
Enigmatic Sorrowful Sculptures
JinYoung Yu Crafts Transparent Beings with Sad Childlike Faces
Trend Themes
1. Transparent Sculptures - Exploring the use of transparency in sculptures to convey emotions and hidden realities.
2. Emotional Masking - Examining expressions people use to hide their true feelings and the impact on personal well-being.
3. Lifelike Dollish Aesthetic - Blurring the line between lifelike and doll-like aesthetics in artistic creations.
Industry Implications
1. Art and Sculpture - Opportunities for artists to experiment with new materials and techniques to convey emotions and provoke empathy.
2. Psychology and Mental Health - Exploring the psychological impact of emotional masking and developing strategies to promote emotional well-being.
3. Fashion and Design - Incorporating visually arresting material possessions and apparel designs that reflect the tension between appearance and inner emptiness.