epilogue. – Yuki He

Website: yukihe.com
Email: yukii.he106@gmail.com

Yuki He is a Chinese-Canadian interdisciplinary artist based in Toronto. She is currently completing her fourth year at the University of Waterloo, majoring in Fine Arts with a minor in Digital Arts Communications, and a Digital Arts specialization. Her practice focuses on photography, painting, and digital softwares. She takes an interest in exploring the themes of trauma and experiences on an emotional level, and would integrate her own experiences into her work.

Artist Statement

Expressing how a person feels is difficult to do. We often face judgment or criticism based on our emotions, or have a lingering thought of not being enough to satisfy another person. The stigma of not expressing these feelings or sharing someone’s own story because of feeling afraid is the sole purpose of You Are Enough.

Consisting of 23 postcards, I draw on my traumas and experiences that I found hard to share with others because of the fear of negative judgment. I want to share several fragments of my story that are considered a “trigger warning” to others: mental health issues that we believe cannot be shared because of the lingering stigma, and experiences where we would want to believe that it’s “normal” to go through when it’s the complete opposite.

Each postcard features an image that travels through 23 years of memory lane. They are drawn digitally using a line and wet wash technique to mimic a traditional watercolour art piece. This gives the effect of a dreamscape where the image is focused, yet not focused because of the detailing and the idea of a “memory.” The backing of each postcard includes a handwritten message that is dated for when the experience took place. Each message takes the form of a third-person speaker, addressed to the person that orchestrated these events that took place.

Interview Questions

What aspects of your life inspire your art?

My experiences growing up inspire my artworks. I developed a mixture of different emotions through my relationships between myself, family, friends, and loved ones. Art became a creative outlet for me to express these emotions that cannot be easily described in words. It became my safe spot where I can vent out my emotions and hardships without having to put it into words.

What are your preferred mediums and why are you drawn to them?

I work with digital softwares, photography, and painting. I enjoy working with the digital aspect of art because of the flexibility of manipulating layers and works. I was inspired by a digital media course I took at the age of 14, and it helped me get out of my art block from working with traditional mediums. Digital media allows me to explore and expand on the medium while incorporating some traditional art techniques into my work.

What do you want people to know about you as an artist?

It’s not easy to get out of an art block. Being taught with traditional mediums at an early age, I’ve found myself enjoying creating art. But the lack of interest grew onto me as I grew older. By the time university applications opened up, I found myself creating art for the purpose of “being good at it” and not for the passion of creating. I was a perfectionist who feared mistakes in her artworks. It wasn’t easy to become the artist I am today, but it took a long time to find my creative outlet and to get out of the art block despite the constant thought that I’m only “good at it.” I’ve grown to be less of a perfectionist when it comes to my work (this includes having messy strokes and lines), and I learn new art techniques whenever I can.