Shinuk Suh (South Korea, 1988) practice commands a narrative heavily influenced by the artist’s upbringing and growth. He examines the ideology that his family, church, school, and the army (the state apparatus) in South Korea infused into him. He has felt a sense of deprivation in feeling the difference between his character and the ideological human image imposed onto him, feeling like a person who had fallen out of society. This ongoing sense of deviation often makes him flee from reality. His work also involves dream analysis. The personal trauma he has experienced in the process of recognizing the difference between trying to become the ‘ideal’ human (desirable role model) that was imposed on him from his background, and the ‘ideal human’ that is born out by his subsequent experiences that have troubled his unconsciousness to such an extent that it has caused him to have recurring nightmares. By incorporating kinetic features in his works, one sees dreamlike structures of machine-driven actions that reminisce the continuous movements within a factory’s production line. Almost cartoonish, the distorted human figures have an eccentric visual impact, highlighting the helpless and powerless individuals living under such ideologies.
Suh graduated from the MFA course in Sculpture at Slade School of Fine Art, UCL, with a monumental kinetic installation. He holds a BA (Hons) Fine Art from Central Saint Martins. Recent exhibitions include his first solo exhibition in London Invisible Balance at Daniel Benjamin Gallery, the solo exhibition at Unit 1, London, and more recently a two person exhibition at the Korean Cultural Centre in London. Suh currently lives and works in London.
Exhibitions
2023
After Laughter Comes Tears, Museum Group Exhibition, Mudam Museum, Luxembourg (Upcoming)
Unfurnished, Group Exhibition, The Bomb Factory Foundation, London, UK
Veiled Memories, Solo Exhibition, Daniel Benjamin Gallery, London, UK
2022
Invites, Solo Exhibition, Zabludowicz Collection, London, UK
Play Things, Solo Exhibition, The Foundry, Seoul, Korea
2021
Hi, How are you?, Cerquone Gallery, Madrid, Spain (Upcoming)
One, San Mei Gallery, London, UK
Peach Fuzz curated by Haze, The Factory Project, London, UK
Post Human Syndrome, Beers, London, UK
2020
La Totale Biennale, Studio Orta, Les Moulins, France
Rendered Reality, two-person exhibition with Joonhong Min, Korean Cultural Centre UK, London, UK
FBA Futures, Figurative Art by New Graduates, Mall Galleries, The Mall London , London, UK
Man(u)fractured, (SOLO), Unit 1 Gallery | Workshop, London, UK
As Ann M. Hue Begins to Reminisce About the Play, Dyson Gallery, London
2019
Sunday Art Fair, Duo booth with Alexi Marshall, Daniel Benjamin Gallery, London, UK
Man(u)fractured, (SOLO), Unit 1 Gallery | Workshop, London, UK
Salon of Conviviality, White Rooms Foundation, Moscow, Russia
Pareidolia, Space Station Gallery and Daniel Benjamin Gallery, London, UK
Degree Show at Slade MFA: Sculpture, UCL, London, UK
Invisible Balance (SOLO), Daniel Benjamin Gallery, London, UK
Call that Art, Old Parcel Art Space, Scarborough, UK
2018
Slade School MA/MFA Interim Show 2018, Slade School of Fine Art, London, UK
Low Entertainment, Arch 5, London, UK
The Solo Award group exhibition of shortlisted artists 2018, The Cello Factory, London, UK
Sex! Human Construction, Human Connection, Crypt Gallery, London, UK
All Sorts, Degree Art Gallery, London, UK
2017
Slade School MA/MFA Open Studio 2017, Slade School of Fine Art, London, UK
Come CSM, Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, London, UK
Commixture, 5thBase Gallery, London, UK
CSM Open Studio 2017, Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, London, UK
2016
Intimacy, Brooks and Groves, London, UK
Sacred Blue, Rag Factory, London, UK
CSM Open Studio 2016, Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, London, UK
2015
Come Closer, Apiary Studios, London, UK
CSM Open Studio 2015, Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, London, UK
2014
C.C.W Foundation Degree Show 2014, Camberwell College of Art and Design, London, UK
Residencies
Unit 1 | Workshop, London, UK
Art Biesenthal, Biesenthal, Germany
Awards
2019
Shortlist for Contemporary Visions, Beers Gallery, London, UK
2018
Shortlist for Solo Award (Chiara Williams Contemporary Art), London UK
Shortlist for Artist’s Collecting Society Bursary Prize, London, UK
Publications
Artist Introduction, ArtMaze Magazine, Issue #9
Artist Interview, Floorr Magazine, Issue #17
Education
2019
MFA Sculpture, Slade School of Fine Art, University College London (UCL), London, UK (Distinction)
2017
BA (Hons), Fine Art, Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, London, UK (1st Class)
2014
Foundation Diploma, University of the Arts CCW, London, UK