‘A day of joy, a day of depression, just a typical day… Day after day gathers to create a harmony of colour.’
Artist: SUU
Artistic style: Colourful ‘neo-cubism’
Biggest artistic influence: Yun Hyong Keun
‘Made up of lively mosaics of bright colours, SUU describes her acrylic-on-canvas works as ‘neo-cubist’. They bear a close resemblance to stained glass, however. And while that pictorial art tradition served, for the most part, a didactic and spiritual function, these paintings simply offer a secular uplifting of the spirits, a celebration of the joy of life, in all its hues and shades.’
-Korean Art London
Can you tell me a little bit about how you came to be an artist?
There were a lot of times when I suffered because of my emotions, and there was, after eating, playing, drinking, studying, working, little time for me to have any hobbies – everything felt blurry. My life was less coloured and had a consistent loop of transitions. Sometimes I tried to think: everyone lives like this, this is how life is going – but I started to read and meditated to escape from it, following the advice of people around me. When that didn’t make me feel okay, I gave up. I continued in my search to find something while I having no idea what I would like to find, which was difficult. Drawing is something I have done throughout my whole life and has been something that I have always been good at, but I found I did not have the time to draw anymore after graduating from university. I had no idea what to draw, and furthermore, I kept thinking that I didn’t know how to live. How could I possibly draw something when I don’t know the way of living properly? I felt like the pieces that I drew before were all lies and this left me feeling embarrassed. I thought I would never draw again, because I couldn’t. But all of a sudden, in 2019, I started to draw again. It might not be ‘all of a sudden’, since I was consistently searching for it, but anyway starting the drawing itself came to me abruptly. When this happened, it was a time when the news regularly featured sad tales of people having committed suicide, which is still happening. Every time I heard of another suicide, I felt sad – sad about the individual and how much they were suffering. I wondered, could it have been different when someone had given them a helping hand? What if someone told them they are loved and gave them courage? It was the same point in my life when my chaos ended and the sad news was just started, which was the time when I started my work, and career as an artist
How has your career developed over time?
I started to draw when I was young and majored in architecture at the university. There were some blank periods after my graduation and I started to work as an artist in 2018. I mainly show my work in South Korea and the most recent exhibition was the 2023 Busan BAMA in March.
How would you describe your art?
I am trying to express the preciousness of my daily life and every work has the same meaning at the end. Various colours become a daily life and the pieces of them become a world, each one’s own world. My motto for work is making the world into beautiful and extraordinary works.
What has been the best piece of advice that you have received as an artist?
“Living in truth and willing to bet your life in the truth is the most beautiful characteristic of the human being.”
“The work is a trajectory and shadow of the artist, so it could be possible to lie for one or two pieces, but if it is continued, it would become their dignity and reputation.”
– Yun Hyong Keun
What does your creative process look like when you start new pieces?
I kept considering days and nights and put the emotion in my mind on paper. If it is different on the canvas from what I originally sketched, I dismiss all of them and restart it until I’m satisfied.
What challenges have you faced as an artist?
Some galleries intentionally misunderstood my work, they think it is a clever decision when they ignore the intention of the artist and write something like what they would like to show, and what the public would like to see. That misunderstanding makes me feel helpless for a little while.
What piece of work has attracted the best reaction from the audience?
‘Eyes that seen’ (2022, Acrylic on canvas, 130x140cm)
The audience loved this and it was recorded in the book of Korean Economy.
What has been the most surprising thing about being an artist?
I’ve found, that people don’t always seem to care about art or truth that much. It is money that is important. Money should be earned and used as a method, but I have witnessed many people became a ‘method of money’. Some people just let them go believing the lies are the truth.
What do you hope people take away from your artwork?
Every life (human being) is special and beautiful. Even though life is difficult, giving up is not the only way. Please do not give up and search for something. Life is a gift.
Faye’s quick review
SUU’s art is like the Spring. Full of bright and harmonious colours, flowers, rainbows, blue skies – all my favourite things. They’re full of life and I absolutely love them – they bring me such joy 🙂
Instagram: @suu.sdg