YU Rim Gough

The project title, “I am Yu-,”…

stems from the transition of my name from ‘Yurim’ to ‘Yu Rim,’ but it carries a more profound, declarative meaning: “I am You.” This project focuses on the spiritual process of merging the 'Self' with the 'Other,' moving toward a realization where the boundaries of individual identity dissolve into a state of ultimate oneness.

My artistic practice is driven by a deep fascination with the "Ego," rooted in the insight that "Mind is Emotion." I perceive the various emotions encountered within as different "Egos"—distinct versions of myself taking on human forms. The “I am Yu-” project is a six-part series dedicated to visualizing the evolution of these Egos, from their initial entanglement to their gradual separation and ultimate dissolution.

As the opening chapter, “The end of the new beginning_metamorphosis” depicts these Egos as an intricately tangled cluster. This represents a state of primordial chaos, where my various emotions and yours are knotted together in a complex web, transcending the boundaries between the Self and the Other. This work also captures the stage of metamorphosis—the biological and spiritual transformation within the cycle of life.

The figures are entirely exposed, their bare skin serving as a medium to express the inherent vulnerability of being human. Although they wear only minimal ornaments on their wrists and heads, these elements function as a symbolic "Armor" and mask to protect the fragile inner self, paradoxically evoking the sacred dignity of an Ancient Goddess.

By choosing a Monotone palette, I strip away the "false colors" of the external world to reveal the essential density and vibration of existence through my conscious vision. This journey will culminate in the final sixth painting, depicting the complete absence of the Ego. This represents the point where the distinction between "I" and "You" vanishes, completing the spiritual quest: the realization that "the disappearance of the Ego is true liberation and ultimate unity."