Surrealist Art Investigates the Dichotomy Between Public Facades and Inner Identities [Interview]

“Woman in the Bath VI”: Haejin Yoo’s Intimate Exploration of Identity Through Art

In the serene convergence of water, hue, and thought, Haejin Yoo’s Woman in the Bath VI emerges as a profoundly resonant work from her ongoing collection—an artwork that encapsulates the fragility, intricacy, and psychological layers of the human condition. As part of her broader artistic narrative, Yoo’s sixth entry in the Woman in the Bath series merges surreal visual elements and emotional contemplation, acting as a visual metaphor for the revelation of identity in moments of closeness and reflection.

A Transition From Science to Creative Expression

Prior to fully committing to a career in the arts, Haejin Yoo experienced a vastly different professional path in the sciences, earning degrees in Biomedical Science and Molecular Biotechnology. However, the urge for creative expression became increasingly compelling. Painting began as a secondary pursuit, offering brief solace from her unsatisfying role in chemical regulatory affairs. Nonetheless, a relocation to Europe—and the steadfast encouragement from her husband—triggered a pivotal change. Yoo bravely departed from her scientific profession and embraced art as a full-time career. Over the subsequent seven years, her dedication to refining her skills culminated in a noteworthy achievement: winning the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize’s RAYMAR Traditional Art Award.

Mixed Media and Message: An Intentional Blend

Yoo’s artistic voice is characterized by her careful application of mixed media. While her primary focus today is on oil painting, she frequently incorporates acrylics and other materials depending on the needs of each artwork. Woman in the Bath VI, similar to others in the series, benefits from her material versatility. The textures—soft yet tangible—and the vibrant color range produce a rich visual setting that invites viewers to pause and reflect, reminiscent of the tranquility found in a warm bath.

Yoo’s creation of handmade canvases and frames enhances the personal significance of each painting. Initially driven by financial needs, building her frames by hand ultimately evolved into a purposeful aspect of her artistic methodology. These distinctive structural features now enhance her visual narratives, transforming each creation into an object of reflection—complete, unified, and unmistakably hers.

An Examination of Masking and Identity

At the core of Woman in the Bath VI resides a metaphorical and emotional tale. The flower-adorned woman, partially submerged, exudes both haunting beauty and a deliberate anonymity. The flowers—melting, disintegrating, and organic—symbolize the façades individuals adopt in everyday life, particularly the societal expectations placed on women: mother, partner, friend, professional.

Yoo openly reveals that the inspiration for this series—and particularly for Woman in the Bath VI—originated during a difficult period following her daughter’s birth. Residing as an expatriate in Germany and wrestling with postpartum depression, she discovered comfort in her daily baths with her baby. In that secluded space, devoid of external distractions or pressures, she encountered moments of raw vulnerability—times when she could ponder her identity, role, and self-worth.

These experiences formed the emotional underpinning of the Woman in the Bath series. For individuals on the autism spectrum, like Yoo, the notion of “masking”—hiding one’s true self in social contexts—is a recognized struggle. Through this work, Yoo delves into that emotional weight, examining how and when our authentic selves emerge, often only in solitude.

Color, Composition, and Inspiration

The visual arrangement of Woman in the Bath VI showcases Yoo’s keen sense of aesthetic juxtaposition and narrative symbolism. Soft mint greens, delicate pinks, and abundant layers of translucent texture create a whimsical, almost candy-like surface, yet with an undertone of sadness. The bath becomes both a refuge and a performance space—a location where the artificial veneer of idealized femininity evaporates in swirls of pastel hues.

Interestingly, a scene from the television series The Afterparty—featuring a stylized, mint-colored bathroom—sparked Yoo’s choice of that color, which recurs throughout her artwork. Additional sources of inspiration encompass the absurd and the tactile: slime-making videos, sugar art, and short-form content that emphasizes texture and dynamism. These ephemeral inspirations may seem insignificant at first glance, but they resonate with the sensory themes present in Yoo’s paintings—underscoring how transient beauty often conceals deeper realities.

The Progression of the Series

Woman in the Bath VI represents a development—both artistically and emotionally. Earlier works in the series emphasize the visual symbolism of flowers and melting concealment, while more recent pieces show Yoo advancing towards increased figurative intricacy. She is currently studying traditional techniques of figurative painting, gearing up for a shift that will incorporate more detailed human forms into her surreal environments.

With exhibitions scheduled through early 2026, Yoo’s artistic path is swiftly progressing while remaining firmly anchored in self-exploration. The Woman in the Bath series, including the hauntingly exquisite sixth installment, provides a poignant, honest expression of identity and emotion.