Byung-hee SUNG

Art as a straightforward attack

For me, art is a sharp blade that opens up the wound. Even though it hurts, it enables us to confront the pain. Confronting pain once again makes us walk again.” Some say “Don’t be afraid, world is a beautiful place.” But it is no consolation to the truly wounded.

Instead, I show my pain naked to viewers, delivering “You are not the only one who are offended, I am too.” Art is not a detour or a mere wrapping paper, but a straightforward attack that forces us to look directly at the truth and confront it.

It must be natural for humans to feel anxiety just because we are humans. We live in countless situations that we don't understand or even recognize. Why were we born and when will the unexpected danger happen? We have no idea.

I graft such individual anxieties into social anxieties. l prefer filling the canvas with stories and symbols(metaphor) than expressing it directly. My recent painting style is grafting inner and social anxiety through many signs and symbols.

I cannot expect my future painting styles, but I am willing to keep expressing my inner requests.