Yu Jinyoung's Invisible Figures and a New Creative Direction After a Fire
South Korean sculptor Yu Jinyoung, known for life-sized transparent figures exploring invisibility and isolation, is shifting her practice after a fire exposed her private life. Her sculptures combine painted plaster and transparent PVC, with opaque animals to divert attention. A fire in her apartment building forced her evacuation and revealed her hidden existence to neighbors, prompting a new series of fully opaque figures, exemplified by 'The Life #21' shown at CHOI&CHOI Gallery. Yu's work, which predates the pandemic and AI boom, has evolved from tearful expressions to ambiguous, emotionless faces using acrylics. She now plans to pause transparent figures, feeling her concealed life was always vulnerable. The interview took place in February 2026.
Key facts
- Yu Jinyoung creates life-sized transparent figures exploring invisibility and isolation.
- Her sculptures use painted plaster and transparent PVC for bodies, with clay faces molded in silicone and fiberglass-reinforced plastic.
- She switched from pastels to acrylics to achieve a colder, smoother feeling and ambiguous facial expressions.
- Opaque animals like cats and dogs are included to divert attention from transparent figures.
- A fire in the unit above her apartment forced her to evacuate, exposing her private life to neighbors.
- The exposure led to a new creative direction with fully opaque figures, such as 'The Life #21'.
- Yu's work predates the pandemic, AI boom, and discussions of the male loneliness epidemic.
- She plans to take a break from creating transparent figures after the fire incident.
Entities
Artists
- Yu Jinyoung
Institutions
- CHOI&CHOI Gallery
Locations
- South Korea