SUEIM KOO
STATEMENT
In my artistic pursuits, I create abstract landscapes that serve as visual expressions of emotions and memories. The primary source of my inspiration originates from meticulously kept diaries since my adolescence. Within these diaries, I document emotional and poignant events alongside everyday observations. One significant episode from my past stands out: at the age of 17, the Jong-Ro neighborhood in Seoul, South Korea—my childhood home—succumbed to government-led modernization plans, profoundly impacting my teenage years. Now, as an adult decades later, I began creating art based on excerpts from my teenage diary, using this process as a cathartic means to reconcile with the loss of my childhood abode. While my recent works draw inspiration from diverse experiences and concepts, they remain rooted in the essence of my writing.
I interpret the recorded moments within my diary pages through dreamlike scenes that subtly allude to the natural world. Rather than directly depicting nature, my paintings emerge as interior or spiritual landscapes, encapsulating thoughts, emotions, and memories. Each artwork originates from a diary excerpt, and titles are directly drawn from its pages. Narratives unfold through the interplay of color, composition, and form. My creative process involves painting the background and subsequently overlaying the canvas with fragments of paper—comprising rice paper and painted or magazine-sourced paper. Each piece of paper serves as a mnemonic, meticulously affixed to the canvas. Forms and colors are imbued with significance: a mountain shape metaphorically represents life obstacles, lines signify permanency, green embodies longing and hope, and yellow symbolizes enlightenment and transience. By selecting colors, defining forms, and paper patterns, I experience a kind of Zen dialogue with my soul.
Therefore, my creative process goes beyond merely creating aesthetic appeal; it is a means of reconstructing and interpreting memories. Within my work, I aspire to uncover the elusive, reclaim a past that has slipped away, and capture moments from both the present and the future. In essence, my landscapes encapsulate the narrative and journey of my life."
BIOGRAPHY
Sueim Koo embarked on a new chapter in her life by immigrating to the United States at the age of 36. Choosing to pursue art later in life, she achieved a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from SUNY Purchase at the age of 50, further advancing her studies at the Art Students League in New York after college.
Sueim Koo has showcased her artistic prowess through exhibitions in both the United States and Korea. Notably, she has presented seven solo shows at the Art Wall of Belskie Museum of Art and Science in NJ, as well as solo exhibitions at prestigious venues such as the Edward Hopper House in Nyack, NY, and The Garage Art Center's Piermont Flywheel Gallery in NY. Her diverse body of work has been featured in numerous galleries and museums, including the Islip Art Museum in East Islip, NY; National Art League, Prince Street Gallery, and George Bills Gallery in New York, NY; Powerhouse Books in Brooklyn, NY; Flushing Town Hall and Queens College Art Center in Queens, NY; Korean Cultural Center in Washington, D.C.; Monmouth Museum in Lincroft, NJ; and the Woodstock Artist Association and Museum in Woodstock, NY.
Koo's participation in various art fairs, such as the Affordable Art Fair in New York, NY; Aqua Art Show in Miami, FL; and the Gwang Hwa Moon International Art Fair in Seoul, Korea, underscores her international recognition. In 2015, she was chosen as one of two representative Korean artists at the special event "Korea Night" hosted by the International House of Philadelphia. Notably, her recent exhibitions include displays at Taller Boricua Gallery in NY and selection at Ellington-White Gallery in Fayetteville, NC, where her work earned the title image with the 3rd place award. In March 2021, she achieved the 2nd place award in the Fine Art Publication 'APERO,' and her works have been featured at SAL Gallery in NY.
As an accomplished exhibiting artist, Koo serves as a board member of The Garage Art Center since 2020 and holds the position of Assistant to the President of the New York Society of Women Artists, a role she assumed in 2015. Currently residing in Ridgefield, NJ, Sueim Koo continues to leave an indelible mark on the art world with her compelling and evocative creations."