Today we’d like to introduce you to Ziesook You. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Broqpa is the name of a small village in Nepal. Ziesook first learned of it from a TV documentary, The Last Empire. Ziesook was moved by what she learned about a small village located at the end of the Silk Road in Nepal named Broq-pa. In Broq-pa, the symbolic meaning of flowers is very special. In the Nepalese culture, flowers symbolize love, happiness, and appreciation for God. Broq-pa’s women are committed to growing flowers in their garden and decorate their hair with flowers every day. Ziesook wanted to incorporate this traditional symbolism from Broq-pa into her work and into her own personal life. She believes that this ephemeral medium, the flower, can carry a piece of happiness into people’s lives. Ziesook’s desire to share the spirit of Broq-pa with people through her artwork was the inspiration for her series, Scent of Broq-pa. The first work in the Broq-pa project began in 2016 with floral portraits of her twin daughters. Ziesook is continuing the series by exploring floral portraits of seniors, single mothers, people from multicultural backgrounds, and different age groups.
Ziesook’s art form always involves communication with the subject. She strives to have her work project the individual’s personality. Ziesook’s goal is to create an intimate visual that incorporates multiple layers of meaning. By experimenting with various media and combining fresh flowers and dry flowers, Ziesook creates an image with characteristics that lie somewhere between photography and painting.
⚫ Twins Project – This Project has grown since May 2016. The artist takes photos and videos of her twin daughters. They show the harmony of nature and children, representing the most pure things on earth. The work emphasizes the moment of intense joy or an ashamed expression; the work follows the growth of the twin children. If possible, the artist wants to collaborate with local children when being involved with the flower market of the world project.
⚫Single Mother Project – The artist hopes to give positive experiences and memory to parents and children by collaborating in her work with a neglected and socially weak class. Collaborating with Holt Children’s Services Inc., the project interviews eight single mothers at the Charming Garden community for single mothers in the Gyeonggi office. The interviews were conducted with five families, a total of ten people in May 2018. 1~2 people were photographed in June and July. In case the flowers harm children, they were collaged on top of the photographs. The issues of portrait rights, shooting, distribution, and publication were discussed. In the future, an exhibition will show them with women in various age groups to avoid the issues of portrait rights and prejudice. Also, with the concern of portrait rights, the project had been privately exhibited at the Gyeonggi Office of Holt Children’s Services Inc. from September 1 to 8. After the exhibition, the works were sent to each family as a gift. The artist plans to work with adopted children and their family by continuing the collaboration with the Gyeonggi branch of Holt Children’s Services Inc. The artist hopes her work to be a meaningful gift for adopted children who would have it as a lasting memory when they visit someday.
⚫Senior Project –In the Mood for Love – This project was conducted around one charming senior citizen. The artist first met elderly women at the museum by conducting photography and video work. They were older than she expected, and they had had a quite hard and tough life. Although their situation continued, they told their stories truthfully. During this time, the artist found out that Mrs. Lee Geumrae had wanted to open a flower shop in the past. She lost her husband when young, so she had to work at a textile factory for her children and could not open the shop. The artist could not even imagine how difficult this woman’s life could be but she saw her always with a happy and active attitude. Thinking that she wanted to present a flower shop to her, the artist came up with an idea of inviting Mrs. Lee to the Scent of Broqpa project. On the day of shooting, Mrs. Lee put on make up and prepared several costumes; the artist saw that a flower bloomed on her face on that day. Then, the artist also worked with six elderly women in June and July. The colorful and somewhat tatty flower patterned blouse that they wore went together somehow with the artist’s concept. The artist smiled when looking at them having a big smile. They were always complaining but the artist knew that they were shyly sitting like girls. They were really like a girl with a big smile in the photos. For the artist, it would be difficult to understand their life, lasting twice longer than her own, but she was sure that they bloomed at that moment. The project aims to give the beautiful moment of life to elderly people who stand in front of death for “in the mood of love”.
⚫Multi Culture Project – The artist conducted this project with multi-cultural families in Seongnam in May 2017. By doing so, the artist wanted to talk about the beauty of who they are although they have different skin colors.
⚫Different Age Groups – There is no woman who does not like a flower. By putting flowers in the hair of middle and elderly men and women who once enjoyed their youth, the artist gave them a new birth for a moment. The artist believes that her hope for happiness for today’s neglected classes might gradually gain power and a history through her projects.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
In 2019, our family moved to the United States so my husband could take a job in Dallas, and I had to start over as a newcomer and new artist. Learning a new language and navigating a new culture felt like enormous hurdles to overcome. I had to learn how to communicate with people in my new home, but I also had to learn new systems and procedures for my art. I started attending art festivals to meet other artists and I was able to get acquainted with artists who were members of art associations. In time, I found opportunities to introduce my work by visiting galleries like the Dragon Street Galleries in Dallas to share my portfolio and learn more about how to be included in exhibitions. Asking questions felt awkward and I was nervous, but everyone was friendly and willing to provide the information I needed. Ultimately, I was offered the opportunity to exhibit. But my family moved to Austin in 2021. I must start again everything. but this is a hopeful new chapter and challenge for me.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I create unique floral portraits by experimenting with various media and combining fresh and dry flowers. I create an image with characteristics that lie somewhere between photography and painting. In my Broq-pa series, flowers and people exist in harmony. Individuals have their own identity and their own color. I imagine the color a person has and try to find the right flower to suit him or her. A person’s color may arise from my impression of that person, their skin color, the clothing they wore that day, their makeup, or a special belonging. I try to find everything possible that expresses the individual’s personality. An image of a flower and a person that fit together becomes a uniquely descriptive portrait.
Unlike commercial photography, where a photo is achieved according to a formalized procedure, my art form always involves communication with the subject. I strive to have my work project the individual’s personality. My goal is to move beyond a simple portrait and create an intimate visual collage that incorporates multiple layers of meaning. By experimenting with various media and combining fresh flowers and dry flowers, I create an image with characteristics that lie somewhere between photography and painting.
Since 2019, as I have lived in Texas, I have combined wildflowers in my artwork. Texas wildflowers are in full bloom in the spring. I can see Bluebonnets, Indian brushes, Texas Ragwort, Bastard Cabbage, and more. I travel and observe the area and create the ‘Texas Wildflower Project’ as part of my ‘Scent of Broq-pa’. At the same time, I am making an omnibus documentary with a project called ‘Texas Vibe’. This is a record of landscape and color.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
As the exhibition has been canceled or postponed since the coronavirus, the opportunity to meet other artists and audiences has been mostly reduced. When exhibitions and art fairs were held, there were few visitors and the number of participants was limited. I was also depressed and frustrated. But I couldn’t give up on my art journey. After Corona, I realized that a new market was opening up, mainly by participating in online exhibitions. I actively participate in the web market and encourage each other with other artists. Everyone is going through a difficult time due to the corona and post-coronavirus. But because this is life, I am learning how to navigate this journey calmly.
Pricing:
- Fine Art Print 24 x 24 inch | Edition of 15 | $590+shipping Fine Art Print 30 x 30 inch | Edition of 10 | $820+shipping Fine Art Print 40 x 40 inch | Edition of 05| $1343+shipping
- Fine Art Print 24 x 24 inch | Edition of 15 | $640+shipping Fine Art Print 30 x 30 inch | Edition of 10 | $870+shipping Fine Art Print 40 x 40 inch | Edition of 05| $1393+shipping
- Fine Art Print 20 x 27 inch | Edition of 15 | $900+shipping Fine Art Print 30 x 41 inch | Edition of 10 | $1345+shipping Fine Art Print 41 x 56 inch | Edition of 05 | $1889+shipping
- Fine Art Print 21 x 30 inch | Edition of 30 | $892+shipping Fine Art Print 29 x 42 inch | Edition of 30 | $964+shipping
Contact Info:
- Email: ziesookyou@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.ziesookyou.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ziesook/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ziesook
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQj-P-VJyk8ltta0l9Z_kWg
Image Credits
Ziesook You
