Art with Depth and Emotion
Words Janine Stankus | Photos Eric Morales
Ziesook You sees every person’s color and is on a mission to tell their stories. By focusing on the beauty of the ephemeral, she simultaneously captures the vastness and the smallness of our existence and unlocks the uniqueness of every subject.
“I’m a very patient person,” Ziesook states matter-of-factly as she pages through her portfolio. Hundreds of images of people haloed in elaborate florals make up her long-running Scent of Broq-pa series; thousands of black and white stills of her own face, squinting awake every morning, created 10 Years Self-Portrait. “While capturing a moment is important, I believe the stories I want to tell unfold more clearly over time,” Ziesook explains. “My work is always connected to my life, so it naturally evolves into long-term projects.”
Ziesook’s expression is rooted in memories of her mother, a designer who made beautiful dresses.“I still vividly remember the colors and patterns of those garments; they had a lasting impact on my life and my visual sensibility,” she recalls.
While Ziesook studied painting and new media in college, she harbors an abiding love for film. One early documentary project follows a man who cleans a famous temple in Cambodia. They didn’t speak the same language but would share smiles, and sometimes meals. The project allowed her to capture less-explored parts of the temple; she discovered the beauty of the location and its people, beyond the travel blog sheen.
Ziesook’s interest in the interplay of people and nature blossomed with her Broq-pa series. The project is a homage to a Buddhist tribe from India who integrates flowers into their culture. “Their lives are closely intertwined with the natural world, and they express seasons, rituals, and emotions through flowers with remarkable sensitivity,” she says.
To honor this spirit, Ziesook gathers flowers and creates bold, colorful arrangements—sometimes around an expressive face, amplifying the emotion of the flower, or sometimes around a pale figure. “The body can become a vase, an object, or the flower itself can take center stage,” she explains. “The woman adorned with flowers is portrayed as blossoming alongside them, radiating happiness. It is a story about the coexistence of nature and humanity, and about joy.”
Since moving from South Korea to Texas in 2019, Ziesook continues this project as a way to connect with her community—and to experiment with new hues. “Having always lived in urban environments, I found the vast color palette and wildlife of Texas to be incredibly fresh and inspiring,” she muses. She’s also working on a photobook and documentary called The Color of Texas, exploring the new landscape through her own eyes.
As Ziesook continues using her art as a way to connect with people and capture their essence, she adds, “In Austin, especially, where migrants, artists, and diverse identities intersect, new stories and connections emerge naturally. I want to stay close to everyday stories and translate them into a visual language that reflects the emotional depth of those connections.”
Contact:
ziesookyou.com
@ziesook
10 years in 2 minutes: Ziesook has translated her 10 Years Self-Portrait into a video installation that condenses a decade-long practice into a two-minute video (one month of photos is a single-second frame). It’s a meditation on time, discipline, and change. “More than anything,” she explains, “I learned that I am not a fixed being. Facing myself each year with a different face, different expression, and different emotion made me realize how fluid identity really is.”
