The works of Michelle Yu
The works of Singapore-based artist, designer and letterpress maker Michelle Yu are emotionally intense and often focus on themes of self-deception, despair and the human psyche. Her characters usually depict humans and animals, with a preference for black and white and rarely using colors, or sometimes she highlights certain parts of the body, with an interest for the expressiveness of the hand and the symbols attached to its gestures.
As a viewer, it always seems you are witnessing a memorable and perhaps last moment in the existence of a world threatened by dissolution, where everything is forever drowning in the abyss. This powerful experience and the feelings the work generates are visible especially in the desperate or absent eyes of the characters.
The art of Michelle Yu, who is currently working on a book, is strongly inspired by poetry, songs and the personal experience through life, and in many of her pieces she combines mediums to make the material itself an internal part of the narrative.
Work part of ‘Humans in Petri dishes’ series / Inspired by real life humans, ballpoint pen on paper, 2014
‘Where to?’ / ballpoint pen on paper, 2014
‘Amen’ / ballpoint pen on paper, 2014
From the project ‘Book of coma’ / ball point pen with burns, 2014
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All images © Michelle Yu