SHIN-YOUNG AN

Serious artists are constantly reinventing themselves, as they strive to achieve an illusive vision of "great art". Often, world and national events impose an emotional response on the artist, who is otherwise powerless to influence such events. The canvas can become the artist's vehicle of expression.
 
   I am an artist in transition. In the past, I have attempted to faithfully record my subject, with an emotional response limited only to that subject. In portraiture, for example, the challenge has been to produce a work that reflects my response to the personality of the sitter. I can no longer ignore the effect that outside events are having on me.

  I am now attempting to do paintings that convey my emotional response to such events. It is not always easy to move away from that which you are comfortable with to explore a new area. In life, one needs to progress and let go of the past, in order to achieve something greater. I hope I am worthy of this new challenge.

The main theme of my recent work is exploring the unfortunate reality of our present world.

While reading the newspaper, articles began affecting me to the point that I realized I am a somewhat powerless artist and I wanted this to be reflected in my work. It has given me the opportunity to respond to social and environmental issues. I depict these reactions through the visual interaction of limbs, portraits and flowers painted against a backdrop of current news articles that have touched me. The limb series of my work juxtapose ordinary routine tasks with exceptional and often disturbing events.