art exhibit » Past, Present, Future - Solo Show at Factory Gallery, Seoul
Past, Present, Future - Solo Show at Factory Gallery, Seoul
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"Until the age of ten, Seoul was my home, and my only cultural reference. Then, having spent my adolescence and early adulthood in the United States, I came to identify as being Asian-American. The successive experiences in Seoul and America left me possessed by two distinctive cultures under one skin, neither fitting very well. I considered myself to be as American. However, in the eyes of others, I was, by all appearances, “Asian.” Ironically enough, in returning to Asia, I found my alienation on a par with that of which I endured in America, only in reverse. My face fit, my persona did not. The suit is a universal outfit — some might say, uniform — accepted in nearly every culture. Dressing up as Suitman gives me the strength to confront the feeling of socio-cultural isolation, and empowers me to explore my true identity. During the past twenty years, Suitman and I travelled across six continents, visited hundreds of places and created thousands of images. These images serve as a journal of my search for identity. As the obsession of defining myself has gradually diminished over the years, I’ve come to a conclusion: the sense of belonging only exists in the context where I feel secure, which I can create it anywhere I want. That said, I’ve decided to bring this particular self-searching journey to a close, and begin navigating a new chapter. I named this show ‘Past, Present, Future’. My life began in Seoul, and after wandering around the world, I’m back to share what I’ve been up to during the last half a century. I would like to dedicate this show to a friend, Emil Goh who introduced me to Bora and Factory Gallery. Although Emil has left us, he is still a big part."
- Suitman |
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Preparation
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Factory Gallery, Seoul |
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Preparation
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Preparation
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Opening Performance
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Suitman double and YK |
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