Yunghun Yoo's latest exhibition at 839 Gallery, "Union Station," is a thought-provoking exploration of the concept of heterotopia – a space that exists outside the norms of society. Through his vibrant and expressive paintings, Yoo captures the essence of Southern California's transportation system, where trains weave in and out of Union Station, creating an ever-changing landscape.
For Yoo, these trains are not just modes of transportation but vessels for exploring the human experience. His works blur the lines between representation and abstraction, inviting viewers to ponder the connections – or lack thereof – between two platforms. The artist notes that the idea of connecting platforms feels like a myth, as one is constantly moving away from one place to another on the physical track.
One of the standout pieces in the exhibition is "Exit Wound," which appears to depict the aftermath of a gunshot wound. Yet, it's also a landscape or a ruptured infrastructure – a train that's gone off the rails. Yoo describes this work as an attempt to convey the pain and discomfort of parting with something, leaving a lasting mark.
Other works, such as "8(2)" and "Train II," feature soft, textured circular forms and thin lines, creating a sense of calm and rhythmic composition. However, these pieces also have a darker undertone, suggesting that even in the midst of tranquility, judgment and interpretation are always lurking just beneath the surface.
Yoo's artistic practice is an active appeal against the tracks of judgment, one that runs counter to the expectations of representation. He notes that his process often begins with a mental image rather than a representation, which can be difficult to share with viewers. This intentional ambiguity allows the meaning of his work – like movement itself – to remain fluid and serendipitously encountered.
Ultimately, Yoo's paintings reveal an interstitial place of discomfort and euphoria, where the body becomes another site of passage. By exploring this liminal space, he encourages us to rethink our relationship with the spaces we inhabit – be it a physical station or the inner workings of our own minds.
For Yoo, these trains are not just modes of transportation but vessels for exploring the human experience. His works blur the lines between representation and abstraction, inviting viewers to ponder the connections – or lack thereof – between two platforms. The artist notes that the idea of connecting platforms feels like a myth, as one is constantly moving away from one place to another on the physical track.
One of the standout pieces in the exhibition is "Exit Wound," which appears to depict the aftermath of a gunshot wound. Yet, it's also a landscape or a ruptured infrastructure – a train that's gone off the rails. Yoo describes this work as an attempt to convey the pain and discomfort of parting with something, leaving a lasting mark.
Other works, such as "8(2)" and "Train II," feature soft, textured circular forms and thin lines, creating a sense of calm and rhythmic composition. However, these pieces also have a darker undertone, suggesting that even in the midst of tranquility, judgment and interpretation are always lurking just beneath the surface.
Yoo's artistic practice is an active appeal against the tracks of judgment, one that runs counter to the expectations of representation. He notes that his process often begins with a mental image rather than a representation, which can be difficult to share with viewers. This intentional ambiguity allows the meaning of his work – like movement itself – to remain fluid and serendipitously encountered.
Ultimately, Yoo's paintings reveal an interstitial place of discomfort and euphoria, where the body becomes another site of passage. By exploring this liminal space, he encourages us to rethink our relationship with the spaces we inhabit – be it a physical station or the inner workings of our own minds.
Yunghun Yoo's art is like a puzzle that u can't quite figure out but thats what makes it so interesting, its like he's creating these spaces where ur mind can wander and explore 
his use of color and texture is amazing too, it feels like u could step into one of his paintings and just be there 
the way he talks about how even in quiet moments theres still this sense of discomfort and judgment lurking...its really thought-provoking 
it's literally just a gunshot wound, but then again, it's also a train wreck or something. Can't even get out of my head, man 
and don't even get me started on those circular forms in the other pieces... they're all soft and calming, but like, what's really going on under there? 
is this guy just trolling us with his ambiguity? 
I think Yunghun Yoo's exhibition is like that one scene from Inception where you're not sure what's real and what's just your dreams 
And that piece "Exit Wound" tho... it's like, is it a landscape or a person's emotional state? 
! It makes me wanna rethink everything I thought I knew about representation and the spaces we occupy 
. "Exit Wound" is giving me major vibes of a broken train, but also, like, a gunshot wound? 
weirdly beautiful, right? anyway, i'm low-key obsessed with his use of soft textures & colors, it's so calming, yet also super thought-provoking 
. Yoo's art is all about challenging our expectations & making us rethink our relationship with spaces – aka, life itself 
.
. I mean, have you seen those train paintings? They're like, totally mesmerizing... and thought-provoking. The way he captures the essence of Southern Cal's transportation system is so on point, it's like he's tapping into this universal human experience. Like, we've all been in a situation where we feel like we're stuck between two places, unsure of which direction to take? Yeah, that's what I'm talking about 
.
.
. I mean, his "Exit Wound" piece is literally a gunshot wound but its also like a train dat went off the rails 
. His art's all about keepin it ambiguous & lettin the viewer figure it out for themselves 
. I'm low-key obsessed w/ his use of texture & color 
. Overall, Yoo's exhibition is all about explorin the spaces we inhabit – both physically & mentally 
. And "Exit Wound" though, that piece gives me all these emotions at once - it's like, you're not even sure if it's a train or someone's flesh 
! Trust me, it'll blow your mind 
. And I'm loving how his artwork doesn't shy away from exploring darker themes, but still manages to maintain this sense of calm and rhythm 
. It's like he's saying, "Hey, life is complicated, but let's find the beauty in the mess" 
. His paintings are all about exploring the in-between spaces – think Union Station as a metaphor for life, where trains come and go, but we're stuck on this one platform called existence 
. I love how he blurs the lines between representation and abstraction – it's like trying to find your way out of a subway tunnel, but you're not sure which way is up 
.
. Who needs clear answers when you can have ambiguous trains traveling through your mind? 
It's like he's trying to tell us something about our lives, about how we move through the world without really seeing it.
.