This is a portrait of Youngmi Mayer, comedian and host of the Feeling Asian podcast. The podcast got me through the pandemic, and I wanted to capture how Youngmi and fellow host Brian were flagbearers of vulnerability. Their openness became a source of power for me in a similar perspective as my painting “Turn Ur Shame Into A Weapon.”
“Youngmi” is also part of a series that questions what we expect of an artist. Through the scenario of voyeuristically peeking into their window, the series provides reactions in the response to this gaze. Youngmi has this joke about subverting stereotypes where she says, “You always hear about Asians being really rich and smart. And I like to fight that by being really poor and stupid.” That’s brilliant and apropos.
@youngmimayer happy korean american day (threateningly) @nowthis ♬ original sound - youngmi