Inteview with Seazen, Swiss Magazine

 

The Art of Encounter
Su Hyun Kim’s Exploration of Emotion, Order, and Memory

 

Text by Djamel M’Rad
Photos by Su Hyun Kim

 

Su Hyun Kim’s art moves between tradition and contemporary reflection. Her works have been exhibited internationally, honored with awards, and showcased at prestigious art fairs. With her unique visual language, she addresses social themes and challenges existing norms. For Seazen’s spring issue, she has provided her work Happy Home Encounter II as the cover piece.

 

Kim’s artistic approach is deeply rooted in the exploration of human emotions and social dynamics. She uniquely combines photography and illusion, skillfully navigating between abstraction and realism. Her compositions serve as testimonies to personal narratives, portraying individuals as universal archetypes—both simple and complex—a mirror of our own existence.

 

The work Happy Home Encounter II is a striking example of Kim’s ability to merge profound emotions with social commentary. Her works reflect Korea’s history, particularly the division between North and South Korea. She captures a moment from a family reunion that took place on Liberation Day—the day Korea gained independence from Japanese colonial rule. Deliberately omitting expressions of sorrow, she instead focuses on the gesture of a warm welcome. By using oil and watercolor on canvas, she creates layers of meaning that invite viewers to immerse themselves in the depicted scenes and develop personal interpretations.

In an interview, Kim emphasized the significance of order and structure in her work: “I focus on discovering order in the world through the act of painting. Order inspires me and reflects the beauty of nature.” This philosophy is evident in the composition of Happy Home Encounter II, where the arrangement of figures and elements creates a harmonious balance between chaos and order.

 

A recurring motif in Kim’s work is hands adorned with the fabric of traditional Korean clothing, bearing traces of struggle. These hands symbolize both the vibrant celebrations of reunification and the dramatic duality of the moment. They hint at the painful reality of endless separation, clinging to fleeting, bittersweet happiness.

Kim describes her artistic journey as a quest to understand life and human nature. She states: “The act of painting allows me to explore the world around me and project my personal aspirations onto my environment.” This introspective approach enables her to create works that are both deeply personal and universally resonant, inviting viewers to reflect on their own existence and relationships.

 

Further Information

For travelers eager to experience the cultural depth and diversity of South Korea, exploring the country’s contemporary art scene provides profound insights into its social dynamics.
Galleries in Seoul, such as Gallery DOS or the Suwon Art Center, have exhibited Kim’s works, offering visitors the opportunity to engage with her art up close.
www.suhyun-kim.com

 

Quote: “Through painting, I discover the hidden order of the world—a balance between chaos and harmony.”

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