Dayoung Min
What has influenced the style of your illustrations?
The illustrations of Pencil-ballad (@pencilballad) and Neva Hosking (@nevahosking) have affected the way I use my drawing lines. Instead of hiding the rough and dry materiality of a pencil, they bring it out in their illustrations by making marks that only pencils can produce. From seeing their words for the past five years or more I have been able to see how amazing pencils can be.
Also the atmosphere of my works are often inspired by the videos of Haegreendal (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCazay-C-shtEEUO78ObKGJg). Her videos feel like a warm hug, and I love that sentimentality she captures. I think it is a part of South Korean sentimentality too, so it’s something in myself that I cannot stop longing for.
I got training in drawing and painting as well during some of the summer holidays when I was in secondary school. This piles up to about nine months in total, but dispersed throughout five years of time or so. But in general, I used to draw about six hours a week or sometimes ten hours ever since I could hold a pen until 16. It was my way of having fun, but I lost that excitement completely from 18-21, and started again this year, trying to enjoy it more.
Where do you get the inspiration for your poetry?
My writings are often inspired by the struggles of people I meet or my own. They tend to bring in some kind of direction or suggestion to those struggles too. This is to encourage the reader to take a step ahead so they can be relieved from whatever the burden they have been carrying. To ensure I’m not writing a misleading guidance in my writing, I ask myself ‘would it produce a sense of inclusivity, comfort and welcoming for the reader?’ Also the content based on my research into psychology and mental health, and Christianity. But I write something that has worked on me so the words are really mine and therefore carry their weight and strength.
Where do you see your work going into the future?
I would love to work as a graphic designer although I’m unsure about what kind of graphic designer I aspire to be. But it would be amazing if I can stay in Leeds for the next few years since I’m terrible at settling into a new place.
Do you have anything else planned?
I’m working on a mental health book, but I’m still experimenting how I will go about making it. I thought I got the plan sorted out for the book, but after a talk with a tutor I’m kind of back to the drawing board.