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Korea Herald
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Through hanok windows: Suh Seung-won explores light, color and memory
PKM Gallery in Seoul presents recent works by Suh through July 12 Korean artist Suh Seung-won's paintings resonate deeply in the brightness of summer: The shimmering light of the sun and the moon filtered through the paper-covered windows of a traditional Korean house, or hanok, was a source of inspiration for the artist. An ongoing exhibition at PKM Gallery, 'Suh Seung-Won: The Interplay,' shows Suh's works created since 2021. The dream-like, pastel-toned paintings evoke nostalgia, particularly among visitors with memories of hanok. Suh, 84, has delved into the theme of 'simultaneity' throughout his career. Initially recognized for geometric abstractions in the 1970s that featured reductive compositions of line, plane, form and color, Suh began exploring a more expanded abstraction in the 1990s, dissolving the boundaries of his subjects and allowing forms and backgrounds to interact. Suh's art is deeply rooted in his upbringing at a time of political and economic turmoil in Korea: People were fighting for democracy against authoritarian governments, and the country was undergoing rapid state-led industrialization. There were no apartment buildings in the country around 1963 and there was no modern architecture either, according to the artist. 'In Western-style houses, light enters directly through the windows, and one is literally exposed to direct sunlight. On the other hand, the windows of hanok are covered with hanji (traditional mulberry paper), so sunlight is filtered through the paper,' Suh said in a conversation with art critic Yoon Jin-sup in 2021, included in the artist's catalogue published in 2021 by PKM Gallery. 'This is how I see my colors. Just as changhoji (hanji used for windows and doors) naturally absorbs sunlight to let soft and subdued light through, my colors absorb something internally,' he said. Over time, the colors he uses have gradually become soft and transparent. "Obangsaek," or the traditional five cardinal colors of Korea -- black, white, blue or green, red and yellow -- seen in his early paintings, have evolved over decades. The evolution in expression, which the artist called 'filtered colors,' is influenced by how his mother laundered white garments in the traditional way by pounding them with a wooden bat. 'I filter and remake the colors. Filtering constitutes the foundation of all of my style, expressions and mentality,' the artist said. One of the leading Korean artists, Suh was the founding member of Origin, a geometric abstraction group launched in 1962, and the avant-garde art collective AG, which existed from 1969 to 1975. His recent museum exhibitions include 'Only the Young: Experimental Art in Korea, 1960s–1970s' at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York in 2024. The exhibition at PKM Gallery runs through July 12.
Korea Herald
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Pop artist Sambypen asks what 'fine art' truly is
Fast-rising pop artist unveils new series at first solo show in 10 years Stepping into a white cube, one may expect to encounter 'fine art,' commonly thought to be an aesthetic and intellectual artistic creation, but PKM Gallery in Seoul is challenging the perception in collaboration with pop artist Sambypen. The word 'fake' is emblazoned on paintings taken from the artist's street graffiti practice, triggering viewers to ask, "What truly is art?" The 33-year-old's new painting series 'Wall' is part of his solo exhibition at PKM Gallery in Samcheong-dong, Seoul. The paintings were completed through layers of spraying, painting, sanding and redrawing, resulting in textured surfaces that evoke the weathered facade of city walls. Sambypen gained notoriety 10 year ago with a satirized Michelin mascot, leading to collaborations with major brands such as Nike, Porsche and Adobe. 'Collaborating with the artist is part of the gallery's attempts to accept diverse art. His works pose a blunt question — 'is fine art truly pure?' — to the conventional art scene,' said Jang Ye-ran, the gallery's exhibition team manager, when asked about the 35-year-old gallery's signing with the young and innovative artist. The exhibition is titled 'Lazy." The artist examines 'laziness,' or rather the psychological fatigue he believes to be prevalent among young people in contemporary society as they attempt to keep up with the fast-changing digital environment and flood of short-form content, according to the gallery. Another series shown at the exhibition is of sculptural paintings — produced through a layered process of pen drawing, digital graphics, wood cut by automated machining and brushwork. The character 'Bomb!' personifies the uncomfortable feeling of fear and helplessness the artist feels when overwhelmed by the need to keep up with the latest trend or complete tasks before him that he has already repeatedly postponed. The sculptural paintings may look familiar to visitors, as the artist illustrates scenes and characters from the works of Edward Hopper and Edouard Manet, as well as animated characters from" The Simpsons," "Pokemon" and Casper the Friendly Ghost. A variety of goods that feature the artist's works are on display on the upper floor for sale. The exhibition, running through May 17, coincides with the 10th anniversary of the artist's debut.
