Meet Your Maker: Youngsoon Jin

Alongside the city’s world–renowned festivals and critically acclaimed exhibitions, there is a wealth of creatives quietly pursuing their crafts in studios around Adelaide. Youngsoon Jin is one such creative, producing beautiful, finely detailed drawings in pencil and charcoal from her home studio in suburban Adelaide. It is hard not to be in awe of Jin’s dedication to such a solitary pursuit, maintaining an active practice as well as raising a six–year–old son.

Born and raised in Japan, Jin received a Bachelor of Fine Arts, majoring in sculpture, at the Aichi University of the Arts before moving to Australia 10 years ago. Despite majoring in sculpture, Jin discovered her love for drawing after two years of foundation study during which she and her fellow students were engaged in a demanding regime developing their skills through daily drawing exercises.

Youngsoon Jin, The Great Australian Dream, 2015

Jin describes most enjoying the physical act of drawing. “It is both simple and complex at the same time,” she says. “While making a mark on paper is relatively easy, the building up of these marks into an image is quite complex. Every stroke is carefully considered and requires great concentration. I love getting lost in the process.”

Jin’s drawings are studies in light and shade that reveal the beauty in the ordinary and familiar. Reflecting her cultural background and Japan’s obsession with the aesthetic qualities of food, her recent work brings these together.

Youngsoon Jin, Omelette, 2014

In 2015 her delicate rendering of a broken eggshell, entitled Omelette, won the Emma Hack Art Prize. In 2013 her equally poetic study of an enoki mushroom won the prize for Works on Paper in the 2013, Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize. More recently, in 2016 Jin had her first solo exhibition at the Adelaide Festival Centre and exhibited in the group exhibition Pandemonium at Prospect Gallery.

In 2017 Jin will be working on a new body of work. She is also available for commissions.

Youngsoon Jin is a part of the Well Made community and featured on the platform. Well Made is an initiative of Guildhouse. Explore and connect with the best South Australian visual artists, craftspeople, designers and creative spaces on wellmade.com.au

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Photography: Jonathan van der Knaap