A voyage into Isabel Yong’s vulnerability.

Isabel Yong has a particular way of approaching painting. She uses her clinical psychology background to give viewers access to the most vulnerable aspect of her psyche. Using people, bodies, dogs and rats, she explores the themes of constant change, the ambiguity of her ethnic and cultural identity, pain, queerness and viscerality.

The exhibition aims to explore the outcomes of our relationships, how painful these can be and how, on the contrary, we can get love and understanding from being vulnerable with others.

My first impression when I entered the VAV gallery was how skilled Yong is, in her use of colours and attention to detail. I especially appreciated the hues of cold turquoise, pink, and purple that she used in many of her pieces; the contrast of these colours gave her paintings a mysterious, other-worldly feel that mesmerized me.

I found myself unable to take my eyes off of one painting in particular, the one of the blonde person bending upwards, holding a pickle axe, with satin pink heels. The detail of the shoe and satin were simply exquisite. It felt luxurious and voluminous, almost like I could touch it. 

The artist lets us inside her mind and her experiences; the result is quite pleasantly surprising and emotional. Isabel Yong is definitely an artist to watch out for, I am sure she has a great career in front of her.