Rachel Youn creates humanlike, kinetic floral sculptures using repurposed household electronics. These sculptures consist of vacuum cleaners, personal massagers, and walking pads, combined with artificial flowers and metal hardware, giving them a lifelike essence. Youn’s work, such as the piece “Slow Burn”, uses a neck massager and artificial orchid to produce a sexualized visual of the orchid’s petals opening and closing. This process metaphorically traps the flower in a comfort loop, similar to self-destructive cycles in human behavior.
The components are often sourced from secondhand electronics on platforms like Facebook Marketplace. Youn’s art evokes emotions and questions societal norms regarding domestic and sexual labor and the connections between humans and machines. In an interview, Youn discussed their upbringing in a Christian immigrant household and how those experiences subtly influenced their art. They also acknowledge a transition from animation interests to sculpture, focusing on anthropomorphic characteristics and gestures, leading to the current state of their work.
The intimacy projected by these sculptures offers commentary on AI and relationships in a technologically driven world. Despite this, Youn’s works break down over time, revealing the finite nature of these machines, paralleling human relationships. Their sculptures reflect on life cycles, entropy, and the ephemeral value of objects, similar to living beings. Youn’s current installations highlight these themes and are showcased at Cleo the Project Space in Savannah, GA, until April 25th, 2026.