Yelin Lee's Expressionless Girls in Ultramarine Invite Viewer Introspection
Korean artist Yelin Lee creates acrylic paintings of expressionless girls saturated in ultramarine, a palette collectors call 'Yelin's Blue.' Her work, inspired by childhood exposure to manga and animation from her parents' comic and video rental shops, features minimalist compositions that strip away narrative details, leaving only the figure's gaze. Lee intentionally leaves emotions ambiguous, allowing viewers to project their own feelings. Her newest series, 'Not Quite You, Not Quite Me,' explores identity through the overlap of memory, emotion, and digital culture, incorporating afterimages of manga and anime. Lee has expanded into digital works, collaborations, and NFTs, but emphasizes the 'mutual gaze' between the girl's eyes and the viewer as central. She describes the color blue as a natural self-discovery, not a deliberate choice. The paintings function as mirrors, with Lee hoping viewers find comfort to move forward rather than definitive answers.
Key facts
- Yelin Lee is a Korean artist.
- She works primarily in acrylic.
- Her signature ultramarine palette is called 'Yelin's Blue.'
- Her parents ran a comic book and video rental shop.
- She grew up surrounded by comics and animations.
- Her newest series is titled 'Not Quite You, Not Quite Me.'
- The series explores identity, memory, emotion, and digital culture.
- Lee has expanded into digital works, collaborations, and NFTs.
Entities
Artists
- Yelin Lee
Institutions
- My Modern Met