SUH SEUNG-WON

Since the 1960s, Suh has developed a distinctive visual language that fuses abstraction with the spiritual sensibility of Korea. A founding member of Origin (1962–), a geometric abstraction group, and AG (1969–1975), an avant-garde collective, Suh played a pivotal role in laying the foundations of Korean contemporary art. Central to his practice is the concept of Simultaneity—the belief that the physical and internal worlds coexist within a single field. This philosophy, guiding his practice for over five decades, reflects a synthesis of sensory perception and transcendental thought.

In The Interplay, Suh’s recent works deepen his exploration of Simultaneity through layered light and colour, reductive composition, and a refined sense of harmony and balance. Selected for their visual density and depth over physical scale, the works are rhythmically installed throughout the gallery. Each painting stands independently yet resonates in quiet dialogue with others. Drawing upon his childhood memories of sunlight shimmering through traditional Korean paper (changhoji) windows, Suh has refined a pictorial world where light permeates the interior and exterior spaces. His recent works expand toward a cosmic dimension—where light, colour, time, and space intersect—offering a sense of depth and resonance that transcends the canvas.

Suh Seung-Won received his BFA and MFA in painting from Hongik University in Seoul. Since the mid-20th century, he has participated in numerous exhibitions at major art institutions across countries, including Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the United States, France, and Germany, as well as international art events such as Paris Biennale, São Paulo Biennale, and Gwangju Biennale. His participation in the seminal exhibition Five Korean Artists, Five Kinds of White (1975) at the Tokyo Gallery marked a turning point for the global recognition of Korean contemporary art. The artist has received numerous awards, including the Korean Art Grand Award (1978), the Gwangju Culture and Arts Award (2013), and the Best Artist Award from the Korean Art Critics Association (2017). His works are included in the permanent collections of the British Museum in London, the Guggenheim in Abu Dhabi, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Gwacheon, and Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul.