ABOUT JINGJING YANG
AKA. Emerald Yang
Jingjing Yang, a Chinese-born printmaker and visual artist, draws from her global journey spanning San Francisco, New England, Sydney, and Shanghai. Her art, rooted in printmaking and book-making, explores the intricate interconnections woven between individuals. Yang's work reflects a fusion of experiences, offering visual narrative of cultural exploration andexchange.
I have consistently been drawn to the nuanced connections between individuals. A case in point is the moment when someone reaches out to tap you on the shoulder – an act imbued with an unusual sensation that becomes apparent when their fingertips are mere inches away. Although nearly imperceptible, this subtle change, akin to a slight increase in temperature, leaves us uncertain about the existence of this fleeting connection.
Printmaking and book-making serve as my primary modes of expression, allowing me to conceptualize my artworks as the embodiment of materialized reveries, remnants of illusions, and threads intricately woven with my lineage and cultural heritage. While emotions inherently elude visual representation, their deeper imprints pose a challenge to achieving tranquility. Beneath the veneer of apparent serenity lies an enclave of memories. I perceive these memories as surging currents of dark blue, often concealed beneath a seemingly solid facade, some believed to be forgotten. Contrary to conventional beliefs that memories gradually fade over time, they resurface with unwavering clarity and intensity, defying resolution for an enduring duration. Upon closer inspection of my works, they serve as reflections of my emotions at specific points in time. Although my life has spanned only a little over 10,000 days, it has been replete with instances of separation and attachment. My works become vessels for the obsessions that elude verbal expression, encapsulating my emotions and invisible burdens, eventually taking shape in the format of print media.