Artist John Yuyi's work reimagines social media iconography and designer branding as adornments for the human face
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Known for her custom temporary tattoos which combine themes of digital identity, internet culture and luxury fashion, John Yuyi is a Taiwanese artist, now based in New York, who has worked with Gucci, was included as one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for 2018, and in February 2018 debuted her first solo exhibition at The Art Vacancy in New York.
All of that, and her career started by accident. After graduating from Shih Chien University in Taipei with a degree in fashion design, Yuyi tried to earn some money selling custom temporary tattoos online. While she found it hard to make a profit, Yuyi began turning her tattoos into art and it took off from there. “I put social media, youth culture, beauty standards or my feelings onto bodies,” Yuyi says. “I’m not good at expressing myself with words so I didn’t give them too much explanation or description. I really didn’t expect it would become my job – I just thought it would be fun!”
Well, can't it be both?
What’s your earliest beauty related memory?
14-years-old: I went to perm my eyelashes by myself and I didn't tell my BFF. She felt I had betrayed her.
What three beauty products are in your bag right this second?
Definitely lipstick. Most important (because if you don't have blush and eyeshadow in real emergency cases lipstick save you!!!) Fenty blotting powder!!! Very important. Eyeshadow (same theory – if you don't have eyebrow liner or contour shadow, in real emergency cases, eyeshadow save you!!!)
What’s your favourite smell and why?
D&G Light Blue. I don't know why. I think it was my first perfume gift and I just need to smell it sometimes to remind me of high school Yuyi.
What beauty product would you take with you to the moon? Why?
MUST BE moisturising lotion. I'm not sure, but I bet it must be super dry on the moon (pass mic to Armstrong).
What does beauty mean to you?
I think for me I feel attracted by a lot of types of beauty, nature beauty, basic hottie beauty, plastic surgery beauty, high end beauty, trendy and in fashion beauty, cool beauty, weird beauty, ugly beauty, clean beauty, heavy beauty… I think I have a really big range of standards of beauty and I'm happy because I find a lot of stuff is beauty.
Are you optimistic about the future?
Umm, depends on my status of bipolar disorder. But at this moment I'm pretty positive. I wish my kids are cute.
Finish this sentence: the future of beauty looks like….
The future of beauty looks like... YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!