Insuh Yoon is one of the most original and interesting voices emerging in contemporary nude photography. He was featured in Fluffer Magazine #2 and we interviewed him for the italian edition of Inside Art magazine. Here comes the original version of the interview. Enjoy ^_^
I read you have an App on findrow and I noticed you publish a lot on it (insuhyoon.findrow.com). How does it work?
My app is a part of the Me In My Place network of apps. The idea behind the app is to offer a more complete look at my shoots. Luckily the Findrow team made the app for me so all I have to do is keep shooting and uploading my photos there for people to enjoy. The money I make from the app helps me to shoot more so I’m very happy and fortunate to be a part of it.
Have you always lived in NY? If not, why did you move from Seoul?
I’ve lived in NY since I was a small child. It was not my decision to move here it was my mother’s. The reasons are personal. I’m glad to be a New Yorker. I don’t remember much about Korea.
I saw on your blog you also collaborate with other young artists (both for modeling and for design inspiration), how did it start?
I appreciate my fellow artists and I like to collaborate with people whenever possible. It always starts randomly. Mostly people find me on my social networks, specifically tumblr or instagram. I recently photographed an incredibly talented artist named Bunny Lee who is an extremely talented painter and illustrator. The pictures we made are among my favorites. It’s my goal to shoot more of these artist’s portraits. I think art is sexy and it’s always a pleasure to collaborate with my contemporaries.
What influenced you in choosing to shoot only nudes?
There is nothing as beautiful or as timeless as the female form. I like to focus on the beauty inherent in all females. I feel the same about flowers so it’s why I’ve combined both elements into my work at present.
The first time I saw your pictures, I noticed you use flowers and water very often. Why? Shall we consider it as “the signature” of your work?
Flowers are so common yet they can be easily ignored. I’ve ignored them most of my life but after starting this series earlier this year I have a newfound love for them. I will never tire of them, I think flowers are beautiful, and they’re so varied. I like to think I’m honoring them in a way because the flowers in my shoots will forever be beautiful. As if they are being immortalized at the prime of their beauty. Right now flowers are my signature. I would love to be known as the flower photographer. The water is very new, I’ve only done two shoots involving water.
It’s something I’d love to expand on as time goes on.
You shoot women in a very rough, simple way. Sometimes bizarre: why shooting a girl with tampons?
I believe in portraying things as they are. If the model I’m photographing is having her period I don’t attempt to hide it. I’d rather show real things rather than hide them. I think people are too fearful of natural body functions. Blood doesn’t scare me, neither does body hair or anything else that may be absent in other photographers’ works. I don’t consider these things bizarre or rough I see them as natural and normal. I want to make everything look beautiful.
Your shootings are very intimate and explicit in their content, sometimes crossing the line between eroticism and porn. Where would you place your language, exactly?
My goal as an artist is to create work that is interesting and visually stimulating to the viewer. I don’t mean to cross the line. If it was up to me there would be no line.
Where do you find inspiration? Who are your favourite photographers?
I find inspiration in films, music, and art. I’ve always appreciated art of all kinds. My favorite photographers are Richard Kern, Ryan McGinley, David Hamilton, and Gregory Crewdson. I also find inspiration in the works of Stanley Kubrick and David Lynch as well as any film shot by Roger Deakins (my favorite cinematographer).
Where would you like to see yourself in the future?
I’d like to see myself working exclusively on my own artistic endeavours and being able to support myself that way. I think the time is now to focus on my own art and my personal growth as an artist and as a man. I’d love to exhibit my works as well as be published more.
Do you have specific plans about new projects?
The flowers have me occupied at the moment but I’ve been thinking about traveling and photographing in places foreign and exotic to me. I want to be the Anthony Bourdain of erotic photography. I would also love to photograph other artists.
Insuh Yoon | website
