20/20 Vision, Second Edition

The Art of Contemporary University Printmaking

Rina Yoon

Traditional printmaking relies on creating a matrix for printing multiples. In my work, I do not aim to produce multiple prints of the same image, but I use printmaking process for its unique, visual characteristics. Some of the most important qualities of the processes that I rely on are: marks embedded into the paper with the pressure of the press, building up layers allowing time for reflection and meditation, and reconfiguring different plates to change or alter images altogether. My work is always driven by curiosity of the unknown as well as sensitivities to the materials I work with.

The most current body of work, Sympathetic Fibers, is about wanting to stay connected to myself, to recognize my roots and to cultivate seeds of renewal. Filled with hundreds of delicate marks, the prints are suggestive of internal bodily systems. I refer to sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for sustaining a balance of body functions under stress and keeping its vital operations in order. The prints reflect on family, body, bodily tissues, growth and my connection to nature.