Yurim Gough

Yurim Gough is an award-winning ceramic artist from South Korea. She worked in Seoul, Tokyo and London as a successful shoe designer before emigrating to the UK, where a fascination with different media led her to discover her creative voice. Yurim began to work on delicate ceramic bowls, overlaying expressive life drawings with contemporary images. Her unique approach to ceramics enabled her to explore her own personal language, identity and passion.

Her first exhibition was in 'The Other Art Fair' at the Arnolfini in Bristol. In 2016, Yurim was diagnosed with breast cancer. Out of this challenging experience, she created the 'VainEgo' project: a series of ceramic self-portraits that captured and documented her emotional journey. In May 2022, 'VainEgo' was exhibited as a highly- acclaimed solo show at the APT Gallery, London, funded by Arts Council England.

Yurim has created several other themed projects, including the 'Gender-fluid' series, which is currently showing at the 'Fondation Bernardaud', Limoges, France; the show will soon move to the museum 'Halle Saint-Pierre' in Paris.

Yurim now lives in Cambridge, England, where her studio is located. Her pieces appear in private collections and have been selected for multiple art prizes, magazine features, and exhibitions, both nationally and internationally.

In the first of a series of interviews, we caught up with Yurim at her studio in Cambridge to talk art, life and the experiences that have influenced her work.

Renin: What initially inspired you to combine ceramics and life drawing together? Is there a personal relationship between the two for you?

Yurim: Combining ceramic and life drawing began in a very simple and natural way. It was a combination of following my passion and intuition, and the right timing.

I failed to go to art university, so then I started life drawing as a hobby. I still remember the first time I attended life drawing in a classroom somewhere in Seoul. I was quite shy sometimes at that age, so even though I wasn't the naked person, I really didn't know what to do and couldn't look straight to the model! But as soon as the class started, my concentration expanded and I struggled to figure out how to capture a three-dimensional body on flat paper. It was also a very exciting and truly unforgettable moment for me. Very limited time was also an interesting challenge! I knew I wouldn't find it boring because it wasn't easy.

When I came to England in 2006, I couldn't continue as a fashion designer of shoes, a job that I worked in for nearly 10 years in Seoul and Tokyo, because I couldn't speak a word of English. However, I carried on life drawing and exploring new materials that fit me. I knew that language barriers did not affect creation. Then, I came across clay for the first time, and I can't forget the soft touch of it; I felt making any form in my hands was like meeting a new friend who authentically listened to me. Clay work was my own simulation space, and I have formed a space where time constraints and pain do not exist. Niether do the difficulties, the frustration, and the impatience of life in the UK. All of those moments, they blew away and kept me calm when I touched the clay.

In this way, something I like and something special has been combined. Like destiny.

“Life here in England is still difficult to adapt to, even after a long time, both linguistically and especially culturally. But fundamentally, I think I'm still the same as I used to be.”

Renin: You have touched upon moving to the UK and learning English after relocating. Did your self-image or sense of identity change after this move and did this experience influence your work?

Yurim: It wasn't the first time learning a different culture and language. The nearly two years of experience in Japan were easy to adapt to because there were parts similar to those in Korea. However, life here in England is still difficult to adapt to, even after a long time, both linguistically and especially culturally. But fundamentally, I think I'm still the same as I used to be. However, it is an undeniable fact that the experiences of these various countries have broadened my thoughts and perspectives. Due to these experiences, it is often mentioned by people around me that my thoughts are a little different from others. Of course, I think it is natural in some ways that these experiences are becoming an important factor in the creation of my work.

“I came across clay for the first time, and I can't forget the soft touch of it; I felt making any form in my hands was like meeting a new friend who authentically listened to me”

Renin: Whilst some of your projects explore issues relating to humanity within a wider social context, some investigate more tender, personal moments, such as ‘VainEgo’. In many cases we tend to reflect on our experiences after they have happened. How did it feel to create these works whilst going through your treatment and what is the connection you have with this project now?

Yurim: I think interest in humanity begins naturally from birth. Surprisingly, the first vision for children is the shape of a human face and figure. That's how I started to paint, too, and I still am. In particular, I have a lot of interest in human emotions, so sometimes I observe them closely through myself. I used to say that wanting to experience everything is my goal in life. You know, of course, there are good experiences as well as bad experiences.

In 2016, I had the unexpected experience of breast cancer. Ironically, I was a little excited that it was a good opportunity to take a really deep look at myself, to capture each moment. In a short time less than three hours after being diagnosed with breast cancer, I had drawn a clear vision of the project "VainEgo." That's how this project started.

I drew a self-portrait a day before the drug administration began. When I looked at my disgusting and weak self in front of the mirror and drew it, I seemed to have a very good story with depth of someone other than me. This is a very meaningful project that took me a little bit away from physical pain and gave me a meaningful reason to overcome it day by day.

This project is still ongoing.