Harin Yi

Q & A grew from the questions I constantly ask about who I am and how I exist in the world. Between the letters “Q” and “A,” I created an interactive feeling of playing/tarot cards by placing six concepts representing thoughts that shape my understanding of myself and the world. Like a deck revealing and concealing, it alludes to the hidden questions I hold about the future. I layered textures, colors, and fragmented imagery (an eye, a hand holding myself, an embryo) to make these abstract ideas tangible. The piece reflects my ongoing curiosity and the way I explore the world through open-ended questioning.

Illustration board, gel pumice, acrylic paint, graphite, colored pencil

Still Life

18w x 24h inches
2024

This observational drawing began with studying forms and shapes I constructed on a cutting board mat. I built a structure using cut illustration boards, strips, and wooden sticks, then added metal wire, tape, and a cutout of a realistic hand drawing I drew in the past. Arranging these handmade elements together on the mat against the wall, I created a composition that served as the foundation for my drawing.

Pastel pencil on paper

PLACE

20w x 24h inches
2025

As I explore big concepts of my existence and my environment, I dedicated a couple of pieces to the idea of time and space. This piece explores the latter and challenges my awareness of the bigger context in which we live. Place transforms the letters of the word itself into architectural structures. Using a minimal, monochromatic scheme, I focused on the relationship between form and environment and how letters can work both as language and as physical design.

Mixed media paper, colored pencils, black/grey construction paper, graphite, translucent sheet

Second Thoughts

14w x 18h inches
2025

Second Thoughts is a mixed media piece that blends reality and imagination. I like to incorporate typography and match it not only to the meaning but also to the feeling I want to convey, allowing the words to visually express emotion. I wanted to capture the concept of second thoughts because it represents the uncertainty that shapes my creative process. It signifies how my ideas constantly evolve, changing between clarity and doubt.

Colored pencil on paper

Veiled

2025

This piece began initially as painted, papier-mache masks representing various parts of myself with themes ranging from self-consciousness to freedom of judgment. After taking my photographs, I decided to experiment with digital manipulation to create a more graphic representation of my vision. Through this process, I discovered how combining physical sculpture and digital tools can reveal new layers of identity and expression.

Paper mache, chicken wire, acrylic paint, polymer clay, digital art

Eye Sea

18w x 24h inches
2024

I drew this piece with graphite pencil that captures my distorted portrait through a glass of water. I wanted to depict my contemplation of the essence of existence as it moves from source to container, like the water from the ocean that fills my cup.

Graphite on paper

TIME

20w x 34h inches
2024

Time is a sculptural piece that captures how growing up can feel both fast and fragile. I shaped the word “TIME” like a burning candle and also a ticking bomb with layered fragments of my own memories inside, carefully experimenting with the texture and lighting to bring my past into the present. The rope above is lit, symbolizing how time keeps burning, reminding me that every second matters and that we only keep growing from here.

Cardboard, gel pumice, mixed media paper, acrylic paint

AHHHhhh

14w x 18h inches
2024

AHHhhh is an acrylic painting depicting a continuous loop of my own face, creating a cycle of frustration. I focused on the expression and repetition to emphasize intensity and motion. I created an infinite loop where each scream flows into the next.

Acrylic paint on canvas

All Talk, No Walk

14w x 25h inches
2025

All Talk, No Walk is a sculptural piece exploring the gap between words and actions. I built speech bubbles, emoticons, and a foot-and-mouth form, experimenting with scale and placement to show the gap between talking and doing.

Polymer clay, illustration board, acrylic paint, faux lashes

Harin Yi

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