ONE AND J. Gallery will showcase artist Suh Yongsun's work in the Singapore art scene through his solo booth (FC24) at the art fair 'ART SG 2024' held at Marina Bay Sands Singapore from 18 to 21 January 2024. Gyeyunyun (2015–2021) and The Mountain Spirit of Taebaeksan (Mt.) (2015–2021) are historical paintings and capture a certain scene from the past. However, Suh says when working on historical paintings, he focuses on the story itself rather than historical facts. This is because history is eventually a story created by 'humans.' Suh leaves the judgment on this to the viewer. Brooklyn 1~4 (2023) show the fundamental loneliness of humans in a highly urbanised modern society. These works, which seem to be upside down of each human figure, show the somewhat unstable and wandering soul of modern people. In particular, when Suh depicts urban people, the faces of the characters are emphasised by applying several strong lines with vigorous colours. By using a colour in the background that contrasts with the character, it diverts attention for a while but ultimately returns to the face. However, ironically, the face is not clearly expressed. It focuses attention, but leaves the true essence in void. This is what Suh presents. A metaphor of the city portraits. Although Drawing (2019–2020) is not a self-portrait series, it has a strong autobiographical mood, enough to provide a glimpse into the artist's ego. The large, overlapping eyes give the impression of persistently observing the subject by penetrating somewhere. The hand, placed in one corner, holds a pen and continues the act of 'drawing', which is the artist's fate.
Suh Yongsun draws 'humans'. Shapes of all forms that he works are based on interest in people. Including self-portraits of himself, Suh paints historical paintings in a certain time, certain character of the past. Not only of these, he also captures unspecified people striving for everyday life that can be seen anywhere in the world, such as Seoul, New York, and Berlin. These diverse human images are expressed on the canvas with vivid, intense colour and strong brush strokes. Especially, red is prominently used because it is a colour that makes him crystal clear in a sensitive way and at the same time symbolises a kind of resistance. Suh uses contrasting colours to break the stereotypes we generally have and bring out the essential emotions deeply lie beneath us. The subject sometimes appears as a historical figure, sometimes as an unknown stranger passing through the city, and sometimes as the artist himself. Whatever the figures are, the very naked and raw form of human figures that Suh unfolds on the canvas makes us contemplate. This is also a trace of never-ending existential questions, 'What is human?'. Therefore, in Suh's works, 'humans' necessarily exist.
Date
19 – 21 January 2024
Location
Marina Bay Sands
10 Bayfront Ave, Singapore