The man who paints

We see a man painted with violent colors. He's kneeling down on one knee as he paints. The air surrounding him is filled with the extreme tension that it looks as if he is ready to jump into a sprint. This image describes how artist Suh Yong Sun deems himself as an artist.

서용선_그림 그리는 남자 1_캔버스에 아크릴채색_89×145.5cm_2007~10

서용선_작업중, 41번지_캔버스에 아크릴채색_91×117cm_2005~08

He is often considered as an artist of history painting, as he's been working on the tragic stories of Danjong since 20 years. The visual expressions are so strong that they almost force the viewers to conceive the scene in the painting as current events, happening in front of them. They can't stare at his works without being disturbed.

서용선_전기의자_캔버스에 아크릴채색_160×130cm_2010

서용선_청령포1_캔버스에 아크릴채색_131×162cm_2010

However quite a volume of his works are on regular urbanites in different cities. Critic Chung Young Mok pointed out,"He talks about the humanities not with the language but with visual images. The narratives are, in the end, the artist's gaze upon 'humans'."

서용선_낙산사3_캔버스에 아크릴채색_72.5×91cm_2009

서용선_몸짓_캔버스에 아크릴채색_46×53cm_2006

For Suh, art bears liability of humanities than pursuing mere aesthetic expressions. ● The exhibition also includes scenery paintings of different sites in Korea, associated with historic events. ■ CHRISTIE YUEN SHIN_KAREN WU

Vol.20110524i | 서용선展 / SUHYONGSUN / 徐庸宣 / painting