JEYA: Jeni Yang

SNIFF - Screening at Mark Moore Gallery July 8th

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 22:01:00 +0000

My animated short "SNIFF" will be featured in this event:

"Second Fridays" Summer Screening Series #2
A screening of group short films curated by artist Kiel Johnson

Friday, July 8th at Mark Moore Gallery
5790 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA
8pm-10pm, Free!

more info

facebook event link

SNIFF - Synopsis/Info:
A stop motion animation short about a sandwich cat enjoys the company of its newfound friend in the wonderland inside of a magic bread.

SNIFF is the first video project I collaborated with my brother Will Tee Yang aka the great man behind the camera and post editing. We started filming it in the end of 2010, finished by editing it this year. Soundtrack by Shugo Tokumaru. (Special thanks to Mr Tokumaru for granting us the right to use his music for our animation.) We are also pretty excited that we're invited to this group public screening before we put our video up on the internet!

Below is a still frame from SNIFF:

No onions, please!

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 21:26:00 +0000

A new piece for a hamburger themed show at the Q POP Shop last month.

This is a total MOS Burger menu! I love MOS Burger ever since I was little, if I'm asked, "What is your favorite fast food chain?" it would be MOS.

No onions, please!
Acrylic on wood
10x10 (Framed)

How do you like a bite-size burger cat? (with no onions, of course) CHOMP!

This one has already been eaten, that's why it's not on the menu:

More pieces from Synthesis art show at GR2 (including a mini slideshow as a bonus for my dear readers)

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 06:06:00 +0000

Melody Mike Cupcake
Acrylic on wood
14x18 (Framed)

"Melody Mike" is another vintage toy instrument form the 70's. Press the nose to open the mouth, there you see his colorful teeth as the piano keys, get ready to play and jam!

Melody Mike
Acrylic on wood
14x18 (Framed)

Think would be fun to document the progress of a painting. What do you think? Should I make more of this?
Background music by my dear friend Ryan Francesconi, from the album Interno.

Little Taiko Drummers
Graphite & acrylic on wood
20x20 (Framed)

Synthesis, a 2-person show featuring new work from Jesse Fillingham and I. Art is on display at Giant Robot in L.A. until June 8th.
Here is the link to the opening photos!
Synthesis artworks are also available for purchase on Giant Robot web store!

More pieces from Synthesis art show at GR2

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Tue, 24 May 2011 10:58:00 +0000

Melody Train
Acrylic on wood
8x8 (Framed)

Melody Trains (or Musical Trains) are toy instruments. I had one of these when I was little. They seems to be still popular right now. I think the concept might come from in real life as the music being played at the train stations while a train is arriving or departing. In the toy version, each railway sleeper represents a music note, so when a train runs by, it's how the music will go on. What an exciting vacation!
There is a song in the piece, can you guess what the music is by the hint of the notes in this painting?

Burger Organ
Acrylic on wood
12x12 (Framed)

Burger Organ is a vintage toy instrument in the 80's. With the shape looks like a burger, with the sound, I guess, would probably make you believe it's edible. Start chewing the keys already!

Lemon Organ
Acrylic on wood
12x12 (Framed)

Lemon Organ is another vintage toy instrument. It's made by the Japanese piano company Kawai in the 70's. I think I would like some sweet and sour tones, please.

Moon Guitar
Acrylic on wood
8x8 (Framed)

Moon guitar (Yueqin in Chinese; Gekkin in Japanese; Đàn đoản in Vietnamese) is a traditional string instrument that is popular in Asia. Originally from China, it is one of the main instruments play in Beijing opera orchestra and many asian folk music. The name came from the round shape of the body that looks like a full moon.

Here I found a video of the great moon guitar master from Taiwan - Chu Ding-shun (朱丁順) doing a demo. He is 84 years old and has been playing and teaching moon guitar most of his life!

Synthesis, a 2-person show featuring new work from Jesse Fillingham and I. Art is on display at Giant Robot in L.A. until June 8th.
Here is the link to the opening photos!
Synthesis artworks are also available for purchase on Giant Robot web store!

Some pieces from Synthesis art show at GR2

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Sun, 22 May 2011 09:41:00 +0000

If you missed the opening, or if you are interested to see how our artworks look together on the wall inside GR2, here is the link to the opening photos!
Synthesis artworks are also available for purchase on Giant Robot web store!

Show is on display until June 8th. Please come check it out! Hope you enjoy!

Armor Concertina
Acrylic on wood
10x10 (Framed)

Pling Plong
Acrylic on wood
10x10 (Framed)

Slit Drums Treats
Acrylic on wood
10x10 (Framed)

Castanets: Food Chain
Acrylic on wood
10x10 (Framed)

Synthesis : 2-person show at GR2

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Fri, 06 May 2011 05:03:00 +0000

Hello! I'm having a 2-person art exhibition at GR2 this month, featuring new works by Jesse Fillingham and me. My new pieces in the show are inspired by music instruments and vintage toy instruments. Opening is next Saturday, May 14, 6:30 – 10:00 p.m. Flyer below. If you are in the LA area, please come check out our new works.

When I'm 88, I will still be playing video games

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 10:19:00 +0000

I went to the woodworking shop last weekend to make frames for two new pieces in Giant Robot SF Game Over 4 group show. I began building my own panels and frames since 2008, this is one of the wood shops I've worked at that hosts some of the very nice and friendly old folks whose average age is about 70. One of the grandma, who I believe is at least 80 years old (Yes, she old, but experienced. She is building furnitures at the shop, she has built 3 big dining chairs in the past and is making her first rocking chair). She saw me brought the finished pieces in for framing and recognized the piece I made from the Super Mario. It was really cute and lovely that she started to hum the Mario theme song to me right away. She told me that she knew it because she used to watch her grandchildren on the nintendo system all day in the past. I am not too surprised, but I think it is amazing that the video game culture has passed from one generation to another. For me, I can picture myself in the future, being an eighty years old grandma and still be playing games all day. Also imagine the video games I am playing right now will become one of the classic games for the next generation. How exciting is that.

This project was really fun, I cut more than 1000 wooden bits from recycling wood to experiment with:

Here are the two pieces I made for Game Over 4:

Co-Op Multiplayer
Graphite / Acrylic on wood
11"x14" (Framed)

Make A Wish
Acrylic on wood 18"x10" (Framed)

Info:
Game Over IV at GRSF, March 4, 2011 - March 30, 2011

Reception: Friday, March 4, 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm

GRSF

Year of the Rabbit 2011

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 22:23:00 +0000

It's that time of the year again. By celebrating the lunar new year of 2011, Giant Robot in Los Angeles is hosting the annual lunar year art exhibition. The animal this year is rabbit.

For what I remember from the old asian folklore that I was told when I was a child. The jade rabbit (also called as the moon rabbit) lives on the moon and make mochi.

Mochi has been a very popular dessert in Asia, needless to say, one of my favorite sweets. I made a rabbit illustration. The bunny is chubby, is sweet, and it itself is a mochi dessert! In Japan, this kind of unique rabbit sweets is called うさぎ饅頭 (Usagi Manju), a popular traditional confection. Rabbits are just too cute to be eaten, but also sweet enough to look like a dessert...

I hope you enjoy!

Handmade panel and frame:

Mochi bunny. Please have a bite!
Graphite / Acrylic on wood
8"x8" (Framed)

Info:
Year of The Rabbit at GR2, Feb 5, 2011 - Mar 2, 2011.
Reception: Saturday, Feb 5, 6:30-10pm
www.gr2.net

First Month

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 01:57:00 +0000

HAPPY NEW YEAR! So happy to be back at WWA Gallery again in the first month of 2011! The awesome curator group Industrial Squid put up a 5 person show - "SUPERKICKASS". I am beyond excited to be part of it, showing with Denise 'Dee' Chavez, David Chung, Edward Robin Coronel, and Tracy Tomko. Here are my contributed pieces in the show:

Me in front of my talented friends Robin and Dee's art, and two of my pieces:

Show runs from January 21st - February 19th. If you missed the opening, you may see the artwork from all artists here.

I Believe....My Unicorn for "Unicorn Show" at WWA Gallery

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 19:20:00 +0000

View LARGE

26"x22.5" Framed

Acrylic on wood
2010

View detail LARGE

"I Believe....My Unicorn"
This piece will be in a "Unicorn" themed group show runs from June 11th to July 10th, 2010 at the WWA Gallery in Culver City.

Reception: Friday, June 11th, 7-10pm

Facebook Event Page

Tree Show VI at GRSF

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Sat, 15 May 2010 07:19:00 +0000

Two of my new pieces in the "Tree Show VI" at GRSF, opens on May 15:

＊ Tree Hats ＊

Graphite / Acrylic on wood
8"x8" (Framed)

＊ Chestnut (Kuri) Tree ＊

Acrylic on wood
10"x18" (Framed)

Show runs from May 15th to June 9th, 2010
Reception: Saturday, May 15, 6:30-10pm

Facebook Event Page

Hang in any season!

Please contact Giant Robot SF: 415.876.4773 | gr-sf.com

＊ Mini life updates ＊
Many things happened in the last two months, two major highlights:
Apartment hunting > moving > moved to a lovely cabin studio in the east side.
Adopted a kitten, he is a black bengal, we named him "BOBA".

Happy Tiger Year!

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:50:00 +0000

I'm honored to be in this group show celebrating the wonderful new year at Giant Robot in LA. (Also cats and dogs adoption at the opening!)

Yeah, it's the Chinese New Year, and it has been celebrating in many countries around the world since last weekend. With family, great food and drinks, friends and happy times, usually the new year holiday runs about 10 days. I remember Chinese New Year was my favorite holiday when I was little, because all the kids get a lot of candies, treats and red envelopes from elder family members! (usually big cash, enough to spend for comics, snacks and toys all year long!)
Holidays never go wrong with food and treats. The piece I made for this show is called: The Dumpling Cub.
The little cub is sitting in the bamboo steamer as one of the dumplings, can't wait to get out!

I designed and made the frame to give it an vintage look.

I hope you enjoy the birth of the chubby meaty tiger cub, sitting in the plum flowers blossom winter/spring. 生龍(蒸籠)活虎. Happy New Year!

Piece info:
Dumpling Cub
Graphite & Acrylic on wood
15" x 15" Framed, custom built shadow box
2010

Year of the Tiger at GR2
February 13,- March 10, 2010
Reception: Saturday, February 13, 6:30 -10:00 (also dogs and cats adoption!)

www.gr2.net
GR2 2062 Sawtelle Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 445-9276

2 x 2 0 1 0

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 07:16:00 +0000

Nest In

View LARGE

19"x15" Framed, custom built shadow box

Acrylic on wood
2010

View detail LARGE

Breakfast Break

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22"x18" Framed, custom built shadow box

Acrylic on wood
2010

View detail LARGE

Two finished paintings of this year so far. I have a few I started working in the end of 2009, more coming...

These are the paintings in the "Trappings" Show (which I mentioned in the previous post) at WWA Gallery in Culver City.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! New work and new show!

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:24:00 +0000

Happy 2010!

I've been so behind on blogging. The end of 2009 was pretty crazy. The last two months were about working on a new commission painting and the new pieces for the coming shows, building big things and then holidays. These activities have been taking me away from keeping things organized online.

Here I'm excited to announce a new sculpture installation:

FRENCH TOAST BIRDHOUSE

This birdhouse installation is one of my toast project series. It took me at least 2 months, everything from scratch materials.
(A big thank to my friend Kimmy, who donated the tree stump from her yard, and Brian Scott, who helped me laser cut the orange windows)
A work in progress album here. (more pictures coming)

This installation is now being displayed in a group show runs from January 15th to February 6th at the Wonderful World of Animation Art Gallery (WWA Gallery) in Culver City, California.

The show is called "Trappings": A group exhibition curated by Artist Sisters CJ Metzger & Miss Mindy, featuring new works by nine women artists. The opening was last friday, a collaborating live painting/drawing was held during the opening for Lunch Bunch charity.

I have a total of 5 new work in the show. If interested in collecting, please contact WWA Gallery for available work.

Pakupaku in Portland, OR

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:57:00 +0000

View Large

In Portland only 2 days so far and I've already fallen in love with this city. A lot of reasons not just about the friendly people, delicious food, and nice weather. I think the uplifting vibe and the nature really make this city so lovely. The temperature started getting pretty cold the next day I arrived in Stumptown. I feel that I just jumped from the summer straight to the winter. (LA's winter is about like this)

My inspiration of "Pakupaku" came from one of my childhood toys - The fishing game. Pakupaku means "the moving mouth". I was pretty excited to find one while I was browsing at a local supermarket years ago and I knew I had to make an interesting painting about it. So here I made the "mac & cheese girl" involve in the game. (I have a series of work about this girl who is always in her mac & cheese fantasy world)

19"x15" Framed, custom built shadow box

This piece will be on display for this show:

3 Pins On a Map II : Featuring artists from 3 different locations around the world
Krista Huot - Canada | Kana Ohtsuki - Japan | Jeni Yang - U.S.A.
Oct. 1st - Nov. 1st 2009 | Reception: October 1st @ 7:00pm

Compound Gallery
107 NW 5th Avenue
Portland, OR 97209

Please contact Matt: matt@compoundgallery.com If you are interested.

More gallery view and detail pictures:

Some work-in-progress snaps:

Woke Up In The Wrong Place

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:55:00 +0000

I'm having a 3-person show coming up in October. I've been pretty busy making the new body of paintings. I even built all the frames from the raw wood. There's a lot of work to make this show happen. I am going to update more finished and in-progress images in the next couple posts.

Here is a new painting I created inspired by a dream in a dream, I didn't have exactly the same image in the dream. It was something similar that had two different elements, which were conflicted with each other. I think it would be interesting if I put the snack/candy kid characters in the world of where the paper characters live.

View Large

16"x12" Acrylic on custom cut birch plywood
19"x15" Framed, custom built shadow box

This piece will be on display for this show:

3 Pins On a Map II : Featuring artists from 3 different locations around the world
Krista Huot - Canada | Kana Ohtsuki - Japan | Jeni Yang - U.S.A.
Oct. 1st - Nov. 1st 2009 | Reception: October 1st @ 7:00pm

Compound Gallery
107 NW 5th Avenue
Portland, OR 97209

Please contact Matt: matt@compoundgallery.com If you are interested.

More gallery view and detail pictures:

A little work-in-progress snap:

Feast / 饗

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:58:00 +0000

Feast / 饗
12"x12"
Cel-Vinyl Acrylic on Wood
2009
Available*

This original piece will be exhibiting at this Event: Planet Illogica Extravaganza and Art Exhibition - A "SuperHero" group show, fiine art, live music presented by Planet Illogica. This is one of the events planned during Comic-Con in San Diego, curated by Mark Murphy.

Time: Friday : JULY 24, 6:30PM – 12:30 AM

Location: Wonderhaus : 1441 L Street San Diego CA 92101 (A few blocks away from San Diego Comic-Con convention hall)

For more information, a facebook invitation with details here.

The ironic "SuperHero" I created was inspired by an asian folk figure - Maneki Neko, which is wildly known as "The Fortune Cat".

Feast (detail)

Finally! My Kokeshi in the VIEW

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 23:58:00 +0000

If you haven't seen this...

View it LARGE

MiNT, Custom art kokeshi by Jeni Yang, US
Polymer Clay, Cel-vinyl Acrylic, 8"H
2009
Sold*

My custom Kokeshi for this exhibition - Kokeshi: From Folk Art to Art Toy open now through October at the Japanese American National Museum in Downtown L.A. A collaboration with the Los Angeles Toy, Doll and Amusements Museum (LATDA). Please come check out the beautiful Kokeshi installation and support the museums and Art!

Close-up detail:

I didn't get to take many pictures at the preview night, but here are some: Kokeshi Preview Opening.

A photo set of making this Kokeshi Sculpture HERE.

Kokeshi Invite:

Harmony (Pango & Pomkuri)

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:06:00 +0000

Another new illustration I worked on in June, that is displayed with Nelumbo at a lovely gallery in Venice.

Framed:

Harmony {Pango & Pomkuri}
14"x11" Cel-Vinyl Acrylic on Wood
20"x16.5" Framed
Available*

Nelumbo
11"x14" Cel-Vinyl Acrylic on Wood
15.5"x18" Framed
Sold*

For purchasing the artwork above, please contact:
C.A.V.E. GALLERY (Center for Audio & Visual Expression)
address: 507 Rose Avenue, Venice CA 90291
phone: (310) 428 6387
email: cavegallery@gmail.com

Detail (click for the large view):

In Progress Snaps:

Nelumbo

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

One of 2 illustration paintings worked in May/June for a gallery exhibition this month. Took me enough time of daydreaming and patience on the details (as always). I also have found my favorite music of the year.

Nelumbo
11"x14" Cel-Vinyl Acrylic on Wood
15.5"x18" Framed
$550

Contact:
C.A.V.E. GALLERY (Center for Audio & Visual Expression)
address: 507 Rose Avenue, Venice CA 90291
phone: (310) 428 6387
email: cavegallery@gmail.com

Nelumbo in gold pigments (detail)

Publishing News

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 08:00:00 +0000

My work will be published in a book compilation called "The Ark Project - An illustrated animal bible by artists from all over the world" Created by DGPH and published by IDN. I got the press kit from DGPH recently with some preview images and information, this book is being printed right now and will be released in September this year (August in Argentina) Format 17x21cm, hardcover, 240 illustrated pages.

In this project, each artist is asked to pick and illustrate an animal from the country or homeland they representing. I am proud to contribute a piece based on a lovely mammal from Taiwan - Formosan Pangolin.

I am told to hold onto posting the images of my artwork for this book until the book is released in summer, please wait until to see when this animal bible comes out!

More information: THE ARK PROJECT

If you are in contact with magazines, writers or any other news and bloggers, you can feel free to request the press kit with more information and images about this book from DGPH.

Another little good news: My work "Monkey and Cats (2008)"

won a Merit award for 3x3 Contemporary Illustration Proshow Annual No.6. This book will be out later this year available on newsstands in the US, Canada, the UK and Europe. Please grab a copy and support the contemporary illustration community.

BONUS:
W.I.P snaps with a new painting that will be exhibited at C.A.V.E. Gallery in Venice this July. More info soon!

EXTRA BONUS:
A snap of a project I am still working on, all built 100% handmade

According to my facebook:
"Another unfinished painting and sculpture project sneak peak. (100% handmade from scratch)

Designed, woodwork, painted and fabrics sewed by me, with help from welding friend Courtney Hutton who constructed the stool base."

"My concept about this stool is made for pets. It's small and will fit cat's size pets. I hope it will make them hungry too. Attract them and make them want to sit there for a photo shoot (evil)"

Kokeshi: From Folk Art to Art Toy (July 11-October 4) Preview

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Tue, 12 May 2009 07:57:00 +0000

This Kokeshi will be exhibited in July at Japanese American National Museum in Downtown L.A. A collaboration with the Los Angeles Toy, Doll and Amusements Museum LATDA. Please come and support the museums and Art!

Kokeshi: From Folk Art to Art Toy
This exhibition opens on July 11, 2009
More info will be posted soon.

Bonus: A photo set of documenting the process of making my custom kokeshi sculpture. (click the image below to go to the photo set)

Good Morning Hansel & Gretel

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:22:00 +0000

Beyond the Page show opens today! If you are in the San Francisco area, please check out the show, this show gathers many amazing artists illustrated their favorite children books, the artwork preview will go live at 12pm today here.

This is my second painting in the Beyond the Page show at Gallery 1988 SF, inspired by "Hansel and Gretel" by Brothers Grimm:

View it large

Some "work in process" snaps:

I also found a nice and solid frame that actually matches the theme!

In "Beyong the Page" group show at Gallery 1988 SF, opening May 1.

Good Morning Hansel & Gretel
16"x20" Acrylic on Wood
22"x26" Framed
$800

Please Contact Gallery 1988 San Francisco
1173 Sutter Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: 415.409.1376
e-Mail: Gallery1988SF@gmail.com

Bonus sneak peek:
A sculpture I made for Kokeshi Exhibition at Japanese American National Museum this summer. This is just part of the full figure. Enjoy!

April New Work, for an upcoming show in May

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:09:00 +0000

inspired by "The Little Mermaid" by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen:

View it large

In "Beyong the Page" group show at Gallery 1988 SF, opening May 1.

Lonely mermaid and her hermit friend
20"x16" Acrylic on Wood
26"x22" Framed
$750

Please Contact Gallery 1988 San Francisco
1173 Sutter Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: 415.409.1376
e-Mail: Gallery1988SF@gmail.com

Beyond the Page: re-illustrating our favorite children's books

noreply@blogger.com (JEYA: Jeni Yang) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:28:00 +0000

This coming May!

It's a really great show, I really enjoyed illustrating my pieces. I got all inspired again when I was working on my paintings, the moment reminded me the time when I was a kid, during the weekends, found delights in sitting in the corner of the city library reading a lot of fairy tales.

I wouldn't be able to make it to the opening day, if you plan to go, please enjoy the beautiful children's book moment for me.