Minah Park | AAARMAGAZINE

Beyond Boundaries: How Minah Park Transforms Mundane Moments into Creative Expressions

Interview By Naus Art Collective

1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background as an artist?

I was born and raised in South Korea and spent the majority of my life there. Since I was little, I have always enjoyed making things by hand and creating something new. I’ve mostly made objects, small devices, installations, and short-length videos. Recently, I’ve been working on printmaking to expand my artistic practice. In 2021, I moved to New York City for the MFA program at Hunter College, and I received my degree this spring. I am currently based in the United States and am trying to find my small place to survive in the art world.

2. Does your identity as an Asian inform your art, or do you think it's not particularly relevant?

Coming from such a homogeneous background, I had never really been conscious of my identity as an Asian before moving to the US. It was something I only glimpsed temporarily when traveling abroad. So, I would say it hasn’t been particularly relevant until now. However, I think that my cultural background, being part of Asian culture, has been embedded in my work as part of my identity.

The term 'Asian' feels quite different to me here compared to the somewhat vague understanding of it as an Asian living in an Asian country. My understanding of it has expanded as my experience here deepens. This might affect me and my work eventually in the foreseeable future if I am able to live here for extended periods of time.

5. What inspires your artwork, and how does your environment influence your creative process?

I get inspired by mundane encounters in everyday life, especially by things that bother me the most and make me uncomfortable. This can be literally anything, such as dead cockroaches in the hallway of my apartment building, awkward translations on billboards, and so on. This used to depend on where I was, but these days, much of my inspiration comes from the algorithms that have permeated my daily life since adopting a smartphone.

The nature of my current environment, which is full of uncertainty, ironically pushes me and drives me to work. I feel like the fear of losing control and being left behind ultimately fuels my creative process.

3. What themes or messages do you aim to convey through your art?

My work explores themes of mundaneness and control, currently centering on the body and digital devices as vessels for emotions. I’ve been intrigued by the idea of being trapped within the body, a state we all experience without consent. I believe the body is something we must deal with, whether we like it or not, in order to live. This inescapable reality forces us to engage with the body, regardless of our desires. In order to exert control often means containment, a concept central to my work. I'm also drawn to the idea of the end of the body, which I have yet to explore. Through my art, I hope to create visual spaces where viewers can contemplate their own relationship with embodiment and the digital world.

4. How do you approach a new artwork, from concept to completion?

This can be described as a non-linear process. Once I develop the initial idea, I usually consider which medium would be best to convey it. It usually goes both ways—intuitively and logically—but mostly stems from intuition that leads to logical thinking. Of course, it’s not entirely logical, only logical within the context of my work. Once I take action to actually make something physical, I tend to not think too much. I just believe in dedication and hard work. Sometimes, time indicates when a piece is done; other times, the work itself tells me when it’s finished.

6. What challenges have you faced as an artist, and how have you overcome them?

The first and foremost challenge is convincing myself. It is definitely difficult because sometimes I’m too generous, almost delusional, while other times I’m too harsh on myself. I don’t have a solid solution to overcome this, but I try not to get lost in my thoughts and instead focus on other activities. Other challenges can be more materialistic and utilitarian, such as budget, space, materials, transportation, etc. I have to address these issues, so I just work as much as I can. Besides, work that is not directly related to creative pursuits actually helps resolve the challenges I encounter as an artist by refreshing my mind.

7. Can you describe your daily routine as an artist? What practices or habits are essential to your creative process?

To be honest, I am currently in the process of reorganizing my daily routine, as my life has changed after graduation. However, I have to admit that I haven’t yet established a successful routine. I don’t have solid practices or habits that directly affect my creative process. I do, however, tend to avoid interacting with people while I’m developing a new concept for my work or before I’m halfway through it.

8. What upcoming artworks, projects, or exhibitions are you currently working on?

As I mentioned, I’ve been working on developing new printmaking pieces, something that I can hang on the wall. I also want to expand and further develop some of my current works that have more potential. One of my plans is to focus on creating videos, which I’ve always wanted to excel at.

Chief Editor Paris Koh