Viola 02 Painting

Ara Youn is a Korean artist based in the UK. She has spent nearly half her life in South Korea and the other half in the UK. Her creative journey began early, with colour as a constant companion—she coloured anything within reach. This passion led her to a decade-long career in graphic design, and she once believed she would remain a graphic designer for life. But her fascination with the tactile nature of textiles, something graphic design couldn’t offer, drew her into the fashion industry. She became a womenswear designer and entrepreneur, an experience that continues to influence her current artworks. For Ara, painting is a visual report of self-exploration. She realised that within her—just as within everyone—there is a sea of unseen emotions and unspoken words that call for expression. Painting allows her to articulate what cannot be put into words.