Critic's Note: Night of Suburbs
For the past several years, the video artist, Sung Hun Kong, has been painting night scenes of Byekje; which is located on the northern outskirts of Seoul, and home to the artist. The paintings are realistic renderings of the deserted town at night. However, the red and green lights create scenes that are akin to what a sleepwalker might see. The familiar places under the day light feel as startling as the cold air at night in theses paintings (awkward). Their expressiveness is derived from the artist's long-term observations during his habitual nighttime journeys. He moves at night mostly by car, like an undercover detective waiting for a criminal to appear, the artist takes photographs of particular scenes and stays there for a while. While the camera captures the facts, the artist absorbs the soul, or essence, of the place, which takes more time.
Artist's Education: Seoul National University. Korea. M.F.A., Painting.
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