By Honorary Reporter Volga Serin Suleymanoglu from Turkey
Photos = Koh Sang-woo

Koh Sang-woo is a visionary digital artist and photographer who is based in New York. Majoring in photography and performance art at the Art Institute of Chicago, he was named one of the 100 Young Korean Artists in 2008. 

His works have been shown at leading art events abroad including the 798 Beijing Biennale and appeared on K-dramas like "Mine" (2021) and reality TV shows such as "I Live Alone" and "Beat Coin." 

Koh's works have been bought by global celebrities such as singer Madonna and billionaire financier Ray Dalio of the U.S. 

His solo exhibition "Prestige Blue" runs through April 30 at the main branch of Shinsegae Department Store in Seoul. 

The followings are the excerpts from a Feb. 11 email interview with him.

How did your move to the U.S. at a young age affect you?

Moving to the U.S. in the 1990s was a unique experience marked by limited technology and connectivity, fostering both excitement and frustration. My early immersion in a new culture strengthened my sense of self and resilience. Despite the distance, I keep a connection to Korean culture through traditions, language and personal values, grounding myself through my heritage while embracing the diversity of my surroundings in America.

Why do you like to use the color blue in your works?
My use of blue has evolved over time, and I initially discovered it while experimenting with inverse films. As the complementary color to yellow, blue is symbolic to me, representing transitions in my life like my move to the U.S. The historical importance of blue during the Renaissance has influenced my portrayal of endangered species in this color, emphasizing their significance and the urgency of tackling environmental issues.

What projects are you working on both in Korea and globally?
I'm working closely with the World Wild Fund for Nature, which occasionally holds fundraising events with my art. Every endangered animal has a "celebration day," and I release a work featuring the animal of that day.

Why do butterflies feature prominently in your art?
Butterflies represent two ideologies for me. The first is changes in stages as they undergo multiple changes before reaching adulthood. The other is the "butterfly effect" theory that says the world is deeply interconnected, as in a small occurrence can affect a much larger system. We are all connected and one factor can lead to another like bio-marine life affecting larger marine life.

What projects are you working on?
I have a new exhibition at a museum in April and will release two new works in Europe and Korea featuring blue whales and sea turtles. My next focus is endangered sea life affected by plastic pollution.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.