We had the good fortune of connecting with Soo Hyun Namkoong and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Soo Hyun, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I grew up in a multicultural society. Although I was born in Buyeo, Korea, I was raised in Shenyang, China. Later, I moved to the United States for academic training at Savannah College of Art and Design, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in painting and minored in motion media design. After college, I relocated to New Jersey, exploring the art scene and focusing on my artistic practices in New York. Currently, I am in my hometown (which is my first time living here) doing my art.
Living in an international environment provided me with opportunities to work on diverse projects as an illustrator, painter, and animator, collaborating with individuals from various countries. Over a decade of pursuing art, I had the privilege of learning from educators of different nationalities, including Korea, China, Japan, Canada, and United States. These experiences exposed me to a wide range of art styles and instilled in me the confidence to explore new horizons.
Despite the enriching multicultural environment, my upbringing as a perpetual stranger and foreigner led to moments of instability and identity crisis. These challenges allowed me to gain insights into my own identity and visualize the emotions encountered in relationships with my surroundings. The process of exploring and understanding my inner self inspires both who I am and what I create today.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Art serves as a conduit for delving into my identity and confronting personal shortcomings. I immerse myself in the exploration of emotions, aiming to uncover the underlying psychological factors behind my feelings. As an introspective person, the creation of artwork becomes a tool for self-discovery, transforming emotions into visual expressions that document my inner journey. Beyond exploring my own existence, I examine the varied human relationships I have encountered.
One recurring symbol in my work is the blanket, representing the ebb and flow of emotions and the process of emotional introspection. The form of the blanket is free and varied like the idea of unknown emotions, allowing endless interpretation. It conveys both a sense of warmth and comfort, as well as feelings of suffocation and instability. I continue to analyze the overarching theme of emotional exploration, constantly discovering new ways of doing so.
What I am particularly proud of is my ability to confront fears, facing challenges head-on even when scared, and not being afraid to stand alone. I take pride in my passion for my art, and I eagerly anticipate my future endeavors, including the things I will create, the people I will meet, and the experiences I will encounter.
In terms of my professional journey, I embarked on my career in 2016 at the age of 17 when I was commissioned for a commercial illustration on public buses in South Korea, discovered through a less-known social media platform, Polar. Since then, I continuously posted my works on the internet and fortunately I was able to collaborate with various fields as an illustrator and painter, contributing to projects such as opening sequence for “Uncanny Counter”, OCN drama series on Netflix, and the movie “Confession”. I have also animated a music video for Jimothy Lacoste on the song “Getting Acid.” Moreover, I have been selected for several art exhibitions held in SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design): KSA (Korean Student Association) Exhibition, Foundation Honors Show, Sketch X: Sketchbook Exhibition, Drawing Works, Open Studio, and Spring Forward Exhibition. My first official public exhibition was held in South Korea at Yesong Art Gallery in 2019 with a group of artists. In 2022, I held my first duo show at Cedar House Gallery in Savannah, Georgia. Additionally, my illustrations and paintings have been featured in published magazines such as Port City Review 2020-2022, Square 95 Magazine, and Dwil online magazine. In 2023, I was nominated as the artist-in-residence at the School of Visual Arts and Clio Art Fair in New York, and I am currently participating in the residency program at CICA Museum in South Korea.
To be honest, none of the projects were easy. Despite the challenges presented by each project, I am genuinely grateful for and derive enjoyment from every opportunity. Every project I participated in imparts essential lesson about both the job and my personal growth. To maintain my mental health, I acknowledge that failure is a possibility, but success is also within reach. Rejections are viewed not as a reflection of my skills but as a matter of timing. Consequently, continue in pursuing what I am passionate. While the journey through projects may involve moments of difficulty, the invaluable lessons learned make the experiences with joy and serve as motivation to propel me forward.
I aspire for the world to know me as someone resilient and adaptable, consistently engaging in self-reflection. Unafraid of change, tackles challenges with determination, and discovers joy in embracing the unknown that lies ahead.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to give a shoutout to Suzy Taekyung Kim, whom I served as a studio assistant for in 2023. She is truly an exceptional artist, and my time assisting and learning in her studio was incredibly valuable. Her work has profoundly influenced my own creative endeavors.
Website: namkoongsoohyun.com
Instagram: namkoong_artist