A reflection of her Santa Fe surroundings, Korean artist Ja Soon is instantly warm, calm and intentional — traits that have, over time, steered Ja Soon into the direction of her art. Master of natural installation, Ja Soon creates still lives from collections of flowers, seedpods and wood foraged from her local environment. Finding peace in the process of gathering and arranging, she likens her craft to the philosophy of Yoga: considered and with patience.

We were also treated to a guided tour through one of her favourite landscapes Plaza Blanca, where photographer Greta van der Star captured Ja Soon wandering around the smooth, wind-molded rock formations, stopping to collect rocks and branches along the way.

— I'd love to hear your thoughts around the way in which your yoga practice lends itself to your creative work, and vice versa.

The goal of yoga practice is to quiet the fluctuating nature of the mind according to ancient Yoga Sutra. The book suggests many different ways to achieve a quiet mind. For me, making art takes me to that place of absolute tranquility. When I make arrangements, I am almost immediately quiet inside and out. When I am done, I carry that feeling of freedom with me in my daily life.

— You lived in New York and worked for the Whitney Museum of American Art, then moved to Santa Fe…

I moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico because I was offered a job at one of the largest galleries in the country and it was halfway home to Hawaii from my long sabbatical that started in Paris a few years back. I had every intention of leaving after my 3-year contract, and then I started to teach Yoga. One thing led to another and I stayed. But I think I fell in love with desert, its quietness, vastness, somewhat remoteness of the area… all of it. It became my home. As we say in Santa Fe: Santa Fe will either take you in or throw you out. It took me in. I do plan to go back to Hawaii sometime, I hope.

— Santa Fe suits you. Your surrounding environment seems to offer your craft many objects and starting points. What have been some of your greatest foraging finds?

My most treasured finds are the most ordinary things. I don’t search for anything spectacular or hard to find. Through arranging them, they come alive… and after they’ve withered, they become more beautiful, reminding us of our short stay on this earth. Everything is precious - nothing is precious.

— That’s a lovely sentiment in this day and age. I also loved your earlier comment about Instagram being 'your playground'…

My daughter downloaded the app for me while visiting a few years ago. I resisted but I went along because I knew that was a way to see my grand children. I started to make things to post simply because I didn’t know what to post. I’ve come to love the process of gathering, arranging, photographing and sharing. I hike alone often, so the whole process is meditation. I am practicing Yoga through the process. Just doing the poses without learning philosophy of yoga is not truly yoga practice.

— Your daughter is also doing some wonderful things in Hawaii. Can you tell us about your relationship as mother and daughter vs. being two creatives? Do you bounce ideas with each other; do you guide each other on any decision-making?

She is much more creative and brave in business than me and has become an entrepreneur of sorts, taking on many projects seamlessly and is so good at it. I don’t have those skills. I am at awe of her and she is my biggest inspiration. I am an artist in a true sense that I work alone and absolutely hate the business end of my work. She is an amazing businesswoman. She got that from her father.

— You've recently travelled to Korea with Patagonia for a 'bad ass girls' project. Can you speak about your role on this project?

I went to Korea for @Patagoniakorea project twice last year and will go again I hope. All the images I’ve made will be used for their upcoming projects related to conservation. I am beyond honored to work on this project and for a company I so deeply respect. It has been an emotionally charged trip as I long to reconnect with my country.