I am not just one thing, but many

January 23, 2025

I am not just one thing, but many: inside Ahn Shin-young's fluffy universe.

   

A single thread, fragile on its own, gains strength and purpose when woven into the larger piece. Ahn Shin-young, a woman of many roles, exemplifies this concept. As a daughter, a mother, and an artist, she crafts her reality one stitch at a time. Join us as we explore the life and work of a woman and artist finding fulfillment in the delicate dance between identity and artistry.

      

     

Ahn Shin-young the artist

Q1. For those who are encountering your work for the first time, could you please introduce us to your creative world?

   

Sarah's Moon began in 2011 when I was pregnant with Woojin. I set a goal to make all of my child's items myself. Initially, I created cloud mobiles, garlands, and even clothing and accessories for my child. Around 2014, I started selling mobiles and began my full-time creative journey. After over a decade, my child, who was initially my strongest muse and the center of my creative world, has now expanded my focus to allow me to create whatever I want, using various materials, with a flexible and spontaneous energy.

 

 

Q2. Your workspace is a unique blend of personal and professional. How do you manage to stay motivated and productive in such a setting?

   

For me, creativity is about being open to inspiration. I believe that inspiration is everywhere, and it's up to us to be receptive to it. I've found that a daily practice of creating helps me to maintain that openness. By sitting down at my work table every day, I'm able to stay connected to my creative flow. The joy I find in the process keeps me coming back for more.

 

Ahn Shin-young’s workbook

    

Q3.  I've noticed that birds and flowers are recurring themes in your work. Is there a particular reason why you're drawn to these subjects?

   

I've always admired birds since I was a child. When I was young, my favorite song was 'Like the Birds' by Byeon Jin-seob. I often dreamed of flying freely like the birds in the lyrics. I didn't realize it at the time, but as an adult, I've come to understand that freedom is a very important value to me. That's why I've always loved the symbolism of birds and freedom. I don't think I've had any particularly restrictive experiences in my life, but I think I've just always had this innate desire for freedom. That's why I enjoy creating works that are flexible and open-ended, offering viewers a sense of freedom. I always strive to incorporate flexibility and spontaneity into my own work as well.

 

   

I often joke that if I ever were to believe in a god, it would be because of flowers. The beauty of flowers is so extraordinary, it seems like only a divine creator could have conceived of such perfection. My interest in creating flowers began when my child was young and cried because the flowers in a vase had wilted. I wanted to comfort her, so I made my first everlasting flower.

   

 

 

Q4. What keeps you motivated to continue creating?

   

After getting married and having a child, I realized how much I missed the pure joy of creating and the sense of identity it gave me. While my initial motivation was the pleasure of creating, what has sustained me for over a decade is the understanding that I am not just one thing.

 

I'm a mother, a daughter, a wife, an artist, a student, a friend, and many other things. To balance all these roles, I've had to divide my energy and focus. When I feel like I'm falling short as a mother, I find solace in my other roles and vice versa. This interconnected-ness of my various roles helps me maintain a sense of balance. It's helped me stay true to my initial goal of having a long and sustainable career. After all, you can't achieve success or wealth if you don't stick around long enough!

  

Mother and daughter, Anh Shin-young

Q5.  I came across a quote from your Instagram that said, 'Parenting is about recovering one's childhood narrative through one's child.' Could you tell us more about your childhood and how it has influenced your perspective on parenting?

 

 

I had a very dynamic childhood, to say the least. I was born in Seoul, moved to Busan, and then to the United States when my father was stationed there. My childhood memories are filled with exciting experiences like flying on airplanes, playing on lush green lawns at my American school, and skiing in snowy mountains.
      
Despite these exciting adventures, I was quite attached to my mom until well into high school. I'd often turn down invitations to hang out with friends, preferring to spend time with my mom. There was this one time in middle school when I was caught by my friends hanging out with my mom at the convenience store, and I was teased mercilessly for being a 'mama's girl' after that. I often felt misunderstood by my mother, especially when she would criticize me for being too sensitive. However, when I became a parent, I found myself empathizing with my child's sensitivities and was able to understand my own childhood experiences in a new light. While I don't believe that parenting is solely about self-discovery, my child has helped me heal and grow in ways I never thought possible.

   

Q6. Did you naturally develop a fondness for creating things with your hands from a young age? How did you come to pursue an artistic career?

   

When I lived in the US, I was one of the few Asian students in my school. To cope with the language barrier and loneliness, I started drawing during breaks. Soon, my classmates began lining up to see my drawings. It was then that I realized the power of my art. I vividly remember the sense of control I felt when I refused to draw for a particularly mean white boy. This experience solidified my identity as an artist. It's interesting to think that my artistic journey began out of necessity. Art became a universal language for me, transcending language barriers. Additionally, growing up with a very crafty mother who made the most beautiful dumplings, I was naturally drawn to creating beautiful things. My childhood experiences, coupled with my mother's influence, led me to pursue art as a natural progression.

  

 

Q7. I often find children's outfits to be more stylish. There's a certain charm in their carefree, unselfconscious approach to fashion. Have you ever been inspired by your child's unique sense of style?

   

My child used to have a very carefree approach to fashion. For the longest time, she insisted on wearing mismatched socks, ever since being praised for it in kindergarten. It was a delightful phase to witness her self-expression. I remember one time she drew smiley faces on her white pants with a black marker and I thought it was incredibly cute. Now, as she’s gotten older, she’s more conscious of what others think. It's a funny reversal, I'm the one embracing a more unconventional style these days, while she’s more hesitant. But I try not to let her opinions influence my fashion choices.

  

 

Q8. Is there a particular piece of clothing that you would like to pass down to Woojin when she grows up?

   

I have a Burberry trench coat that my father gave me. Strangely enough, I’ve always had a fondness for the Burberry brand, especially their trench coats and classic check pattern. There’s something so reassuringly harmless and familiar about the Burberry check. My father bought this trench coat for me when he was on a business trip to England when I was young, and it still fits me perfectly. I plan to pass it down to her when she becomes an adult.

   

   

Q9. If you could take what you know now and travel back in time? What would you say to yourself?

   

Don’t take yourself too seriously.

   

 

Human Anh Shin-young

Q10. When I read your writing, it's as if I'm watching a movie scene unfold before my eyes. Do you read a lot? I'm curious about the books you've enjoyed reading.

  

     
Yes, I have a deep love for books at my core. In elementary school, my favorite author was Hermann Hesse. In middle school, I was immersed in classical literature and read the entire world literature collection. In high school, I loved Jostein Gaarder and Lee Youngdo. In my 20s, I enjoyed Paul Auster and Haruki Murakami, and in my 30s, it was Kim Yeon-soo, Alice Munro, and Milan Kundera. In my 40s, I've been reading a lot of SF writers like Ted Chiang, Jeong Se-rang, and Kim Cho-yeop. Recently, I've also been enjoying the works of Susan Sontag.
   
There are countless other authors and books I've loved, so it's difficult to choose just a few. But the most recent book I've enjoyed is Ted Chiang's 'Story of Your Life,' and the book that has had the greatest impact on me recently is Lulu Miller's 'Why Fish Don't Exist.' The starting point of my love for all these books is Hermann Hesse's 'Demian.' When Woojin was young, we would write each other letters on a typewriter, and he would even sell me poems for pocket money. These are precious records that I often look back on.

   

Poems written for eachother by Ahn Shin-young and Woojin. Written on typewriter.

 

<In Our Palms>

In Dubu’s palm, there is hair

In mom’s palm, there is water

In dad’s palm, there is chocolate

In my palm, there are many-colored pens

Though what’s stuck on each palm is different

Love is smeared on all of them

  

    

Q12. Is there a specific reason why you started to consistently record your thoughts on platforms like blogs, Instagram, and Brunch? Do you have any personal tips for maintaining a consistent writing habit?

   

I've always enjoyed writing and keeping a record of my thoughts. After thinking about it, I realized it's probably because I'm a person with limited capacity. If I don't somehow pour out and express my thoughts, my mind easily becomes full and I feel constricted. I think it's instinctive for me to write as a way to survive, so I don't have any specific tips for maintaining a consistent writing habit.  

However, I've recently realized that it's not good to keep postponing writing by gathering various thoughts all at once. I think it's important to find a medium that suits you and to write down your thoughts briefly and easily whenever they come to mind. Also, I don't think there's such a thing as a thought that is too trivial or unworthy of being recorded. Thoughts can easily evaporate or change over time, so even if the changed thought is more complete or mature than the original, it can't recapture the freshness of the initial thought. And I believe that these kinds of records can provide great comfort when looking back on them in the distant future.

   

 

Q13. I heard you really love Christmas. I was so impressed by your 'ornaments that are the most fun to make and sell all year round,' and the Christmas ribbon you recently created, inspired by Woojin's painting. What does Christmas mean to you?

   

When I first moved to the US, we went as a family to buy a Christmas tree for our first Christmas there. Looking back, I think we went to a large factory-like mall that sold Christmas trees and ornaments, but to my young eyes it felt like entering Santa's village in the North Pole. It was a completely different scene from what I had seen in Korea. The following year, we all went downtown to Manhattan to see The Nutcracker. I remember we all dressed up in our nicest clothes and sat in about the third row from the front.
   
Strangely, I can't remember what the performance was like at all, but I do remember my mom's skirt and shoes were very neat and pretty. The department stores and street decorations I saw on the way, the huge Christmas tree in front of Rockefeller Center, and the image of a very beautiful older sister playing Mary in the Nativity play at the Korean church during the Christmas event - all these senses and memories come back every season, so I can't help but love Christmas. On the other hand, it's also a season when I feel a bit sad as I long for those days that I can never go back to. Although I try to avoid getting lost in nostalgia, I tend to be more lenient with myself at the end of the year.