Artist
Dina Jin Bae
@dinajinbae
Dina Jin Bae (디나 진배) is a painter
Q1. What inspires the artist?
Dina Jin Bae is inspired by moments where objects and bodies intersect in daily life, such as applying cream or pigment to the skin. These actions merge substance with the body, revealing hidden meanings and emotions in daily rituals. Makeup, symbolising self-loss and discovery, transforms daily routines into meaningful gestures. Childhood memories of applying lipstick evoke the sensation of velvety wax, akin to the ritual of enhancing facial features with colours and lights.
Q2. What does being a female artist mean?
Dina Jin Bae views being a woman as one of the many elements that constitute her identity. It is not only a part of her but also a universal element that shapes the world. She wishes to perceive womanhood not merely as a biological gender but as a form of femininity inherent in all of us. She aspires for her inner masculinity and femininity to coexist harmoniously, manifesting appropriately in different contexts. However, due to experiences of distortion and repression while growing up, she still finds it challenging to express her natural femininity freely. Her work aims to naturally and authentically express this femininity, and to openly reveal the internal processes of resistance and acceptance that accompany it.
Q3. How does Korean culture influence artist's art?
Dina Jin Bae, as a cosmetics developer in Korea, has explored the rigorous and disciplined aesthetic consciousness in daily lives. The intricate and lengthy skincare routines that epitomize K-beauty, akin to the tradition of maintaining clean and neat clothing even in harsh conditions, reflect the Korean emphasis on strict and restrained hygiene. This beauty routine is deeply connected to their cultural heritage. It serves as a sacred and meditative ritual to begin or end the day, and also as a physical assertion of a strong ego resisting internal and external pressures to alter one's image.
Q4. Who are the female artist role models, and why?
Dina Jin Bae has been greatly influenced by Eva Hesse, who delved deeply into materiality to evoke profound inner emotions. Hesse's work with latex is powerful and organic, courageously revealing vulnerability. Dina Jin Bae aims to view the materiality she has mastered over the past ten years with a bolder and fresher perspective, seeking to connect the moments of her daily life with the broader tapestry of her existence.
Q5. What projects are currently being worked on?
Dina Jin Bae is currently studying the color orange, commonly used in cosmetics and facial applications. This study involves large-scale paintings over 160 cm. Orange symbolizes a healthy complexion, radiant sunlight, and the Manipura Chakra associated with self and self-esteem. She is researching the use of orange in works by Frederic Leighton and Mark Rothko. Additionally, she aims to express the act of makeup without a face on canvas, using colors primarily applied to the face. Her process includes painting experiments with materials like silicone puffs and powder brushes, exploring the actions and directions involved.
Weight of Unspoken Things
c. 2024
Skincare patches, pigments, oil and wax on linen mounted on wood, 30 x 30 cm
The two figures, seemingly intertwined, exist in parallel yet distinct spaces. This represents purposeless action and duality, rather than mere ambiguity. Drawing inspiration from Buddhist philosophy, this duality aims to reconsider the various aspects of our conscious and subconscious routines. Moreover, it seeks to reinterpret the act of applying and removing makeup, a repetitive ritual performed morning and evening, both artistically and in terms of duality. Each figure embodies oneself and others, ultimately symbolising all of us, human being.