Capturing the Essence of Urban Life: Suh Yongsun's "New Works" Exhibition

ONE AND J. Gallery is pleased to announce the solo exhibition of Suh Yongsun titled “New Works,” running from May 12th to June 23rd, 2024. Born in 1951 in Korea, Suh Yongsun has been delving into the essence of human nature since the 1980s, producing a dynamic body of work over the past four decades. The “New Works” exhibition showcases pieces reflecting Suh’s experiences living in Seoul, New York, Beijing, and Paris from 2007 to 2024. These works capture his emotions and broad observations of himself and the inhabitants of these cities.

Suh Yongsun has a longstanding tradition of focusing on specific scenes in his paintings. Recently, he has embraced a more liberated approach, incorporating his observations of people and urban settings into his work. While the initial emotion behind each painting is evident, it doesn’t dictate the overall direction. During the creative process, Suh constantly reflects on his feelings toward the subjects or situations he encounters. He strives to express these emotions genuinely, adopting an expansive perspective to survey reality. Suh’s paintings depict a universal reality that resonates with all viewers, but they transcend simple realism. His use of vivid colors, rough outlines, exaggerated perspectives, and fields of color without backgrounds creates a sense of hyper-reality, making everyday scenes feel intriguingly unfamiliar.

The City series by Suh Yongsun began in Seoul in the 1980s, a period characterized by economic growth and technological advancements like the advent of color TV. During this transitional phase, Seoul transformed from black and white to a vibrant spectrum of colors, and social interactions, including those across generations, became more liberated. Influenced by this complex social environment, Suh adopted bold colors and free brushwork to depict urban landscapes, a style he continues to this day. After retiring from his position as a fine arts professor in 2009, Suh traveled extensively, both within Korea and internationally, gaining diverse experiences and broadening his worldview. He believes that while each city has its unique environment, they share the common trait of being inhabited by people. By observing how individuals navigate urban life, Suh translates the emotions of each city onto his canvas.

Suh Yongsun often leaves the familiarity of his studio to create works abroad. He enjoys being in unfamiliar environments as they allow him to concentrate more on himself. Suh carefully considers what and where to observe and record, creating optimal conditions for his artistic endeavors. Recently, he spent three months in New York, working on paintings for the “New Works” exhibition. During this period, New York’s public transportation system, particularly the N Line connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn, where he primarily worked, became a focal point of his urban observations. For Suh, the transportation network resembles a “bloodstream,” powering the city. His new works, including N Line 1–3 (2023–2024) and 14th St. Station (2020–2024), reflect his observations of New Yorkers during different times of the day, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic. These paintings depict masked individuals, people engrossed in their phones, and others standing and staring into space. On the subway, passengers assume uniform postures, submitting to the disciplined system until they reach their destinations. Though Suh observes these scenes from a neutral standpoint, he seeks to reveal the collective attitudes and behaviors of modern city dwellers, where individuality often fades into the background.

The “New Works” exhibition provides a profound look into Suh Yongsun’s artistic journey and his ability to capture the essence of urban life. The exhibition is a must-see for those interested in contemporary art and the intricate dynamics of city living.