Today we’d like to introduce you to Enmi.
Enmi, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Grew up in Jeju Island, South Korea, immigrated to Houston, Texas at age of 10, I had the BIGGEST culture shock. I came from the waterfalls into the beach, playing in quicksands and walks through mountains, going to reading, writing, math, piano, painting, speech classes after school every day, from shamans and temples to Britney Spears, trampolines in backyard, English, Cars and Tacos. Loll
I was always painting ever since little, and when I moved to the states, not being able to speak English, being in art classes was my favorite. (SIDE NOTE: my art teacher Mrs. Jowers had so much faith in me and gave me so much encouragement, support and love, I would not be an artist if it wasn’t for her. )
My senior in high school, I won an award for painting in the Rodeo Competition, but because I wasn’t a citizen of the Unite States, I couldn’t receive my $50,000 Scholarship and that was my first heartbreak with painting. I had another incident where I was asked to paint a mural in a dance studio in Houston. They loved the first mural and asked for a second. During the second mural, I was going through a creative block which took me longer time to finish the piece, but unfortunately, they painted over the mural without telling me and moved studio locations and that was my second heartbreak with painting.
I always had a camera and took pictures, but after these two incidents, I started to use more and more. I think it was a way to heal myself.
I applied for a traditional photography class at University of Houston, and I fell in love. I especially loved and was so inspired by my professor Keliy Anderson-Staley. I applied as a darkroom manager at the university and had 24/7 access to the lab. I would frequently go at 2am and just would be lost in there the chemicals and the sounds of water running, it was heaven. And this is when I knew I was going to be a photographer for the rest of my life.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
People describe my work with words like surreal, dream-like, melancholy, free and I think the work I create literally describes who I am.
My parents divorced when I was very young, so I grew up with my grandparents in the island. I lived so free and did whatever I want in this small town where everyone knew each other. My father was already in the US, and was trying his best to bring me over. Then when I was 10 years old, I was sexual abused by this old man and this sped up the process and I suddenly moved to America.
I had no idea what had happened to me until when I turned around 14 years old from all the television I was watching about this sex-culture, consumerism world we are living in. My father being the traditional Asian man, he never allowed me to talk about it, it probably hurt him so much more too. I was going through a mental fight with myself. This is why I preferred being alone. Painting every day, and being in the darkroom was my safe place. Every negative thought became quieter, I felt free and at peace.
I felt like I was trapped in a black&white world, then when I start to create, everything would fill with color.
I could feel my intuition take over with no hesitation. Nothing can stop me when I create. It took years, but it has healed my soul and better the quality of my life and others around me. It helped me surround myself with like-minded, open, genius, beautiful people. It helped me grow, understand, and love.
My goal is to color life more and more. I wish for the people who see my work to be filled with color, love, peace, and I wish for them to feel free.
In your view, what is the biggest issue artists have to deal with?
I think we still live in a time where we struggle with equality: Race, Gender, Pay. I feel so blessed to be living right now, and so grateful for artist who has and still fighting for my and future generations for equality. We have a lot of things in our favor and I’m a believer of, if you put your mind to it, it can happen.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
www.enmiyang.com
Instagram @__enmi. I run a print magazine called Phase Magazine
www.usaphase.co
@usaphase. We will be launching our 5th issue in NYC in 2019!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.enmiyang.com
- Email: en.mi.art@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/__enmi
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/__enmi
Image credit:
Kentoya Berry (Model)
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
