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Artist Statement
My mother has always
appreciated small details. When I
was growing up she made sure to point out all of the beautiful colors, shapes,
and textures nearby, whether it was a small pot of flowers tucked into a corner,
the extravagantly brilliant colors of a Korean silk purse, or the way a ray of
sunlight peeked out from behind some ragged clouds.
To her credit I would say that she was often “in the moment”, and
taught me to be attentive to my surroundings.
This practice of being fully aware, fully present is a critical aspect of
my Eastern heritage, and it is an integral part of my art-making process.
I draw and paint to honor the beauty, liveliness, richness that exists
around me – in nature and the manmade, as a visual homage to the bounty in my
life. I especially am engaged by the
warmth and life imbued by sunlight at different times of day, different seasons
of the year.
Based in Brooklyn,
Interior scenes and figures also provide compelling
“landscapes” to capture in paint. I
use photographs, too, for ideas and references, but only of places I've visited.
Weekend escapes from the city and the occasional trip abroad give me the
opportunity to immerse myself in different venues, where the light and rhythms
often are distinctive. I am drawn to
views which might not have obvious aesthetic appeal, but where the commonplace
seems to have a special patina at the moment I am there.
My goal is to find a
simple way to capture the spirit of a scene at a particular instance.
Inevitably the paintings become infused with my own wonder and delight at
having discovered something – a pattern, a gesture, an angle of light – that
is inherently pleasing. At best my
paintings pay tribute to the abundant benefits of attentiveness.
Ella Yang
2007