October 9, 2025
Written and recorded by Gallery & Curatorial Fellow Sam Bruetsch
Clean Up on Aisle 4 shows a public display of emotion as a grotesque, pornographic expression of ecstasy. The four white, blonde “Karen” figures take up space in the grocery store while having orgasmic releases of rage. Two fully nude “Karens” clutch their breasts and torsos while laying feet up exposing their genitals to the grocery store scene. Another of the “Karens” has thrown herself on the floor in distress. Yun says the viral “Karen” videos are pornographic in the way that they spread. The content is a dark humor producing nervous laughter. Yun is reimagining the “Karen” as literal pornographic content showing the ecstasy of releasing emotion in a public space. This action shares a sexual connotation both in the use of release and in a taboo disruption to social contracts. “Karen” content goes viral because of the shock reaction to these women’s behavior. Their entitlement for how they deserve to be treated shows a severe lack of empathy for those around them. Yun connects herself to “Karen” and her own temptations for a release of frustration. This depiction of “Karens” highlights a deeper analysis of viral content through purposefully grotesque subject matter.
Contrasting the “Karens”, a masked worker stocks shelves as a woman wearing a light pink Hijab compares products. These figures mind their business and choose not to feed into the emotional display. Here Yun highlights the question of who is allowed to show emotion in public? Yun paints the most known white woman, “Karen” while the other figures are both people of color. Service work is often not a well paid job, while still being necessary jobs during a global pandemic. No matter the importance, however, there is a consistent power dynamic between service workers and customers. The “Karens” feel superior to workers which justifies their lack of empathy or respect for the people around them. Going farther, taking up a large amount of space in a business that supplies basic needs, such as food, is a severe lack of respect for the community they live in.