A statement accompanying Yoon’s The Room III (2014) quotes from Tao Te Ching, Laozi’s ancient guide to living a life of peace:

“We put 30 spokes together and call it a wheel;

But it is in the space where there is nothing that the usefulness of the wheel depends.

We turn clay to make a vessel;

But it is in the space where there is nothing that the usefulness of the vessel depends.

We pierce doors and windows to make a house;

And it is in these spaces where there is nothing that the usefulness of the house depends.

Therefore just as we take advantage of what is, we should recognize the usefulness of what is not.”

When asked about her next artistic challenge, her response seems directly inspired from those teachings. “I am thinking about silence as an expression,” she says. “So far, I've been making works that constantly make stories by adding realistic images. However, sometimes it is overwhelming to talk nonstop and be surrounded by so many images. So I'm thinking about silence in visual arts these days.”

Minseop Yoon’s work was last seen in the window of Maison Hermès Dosan Park in Seoul last fall as part of an ongoing series featuring original artwork with elements playfully interacting with Hermès objects. Follow her on Instagram @minseop_yoon, for more.

A version of this article appears in the fall/winter 2023 Visual Arts Journal.

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The artist’s sculptures are created using a technique that she calls “drawing in space.”