HONG SUNGCHUL


    ARTIST BIO & ARTIST STATEMENT

    Hong Sungchul, currently based in Korea, uses lines as the main element in his works while also reflecting the regularity of parallel. He turns photographs into three-dimensional works of art by printing the photographs onto a series of elastic bands that he then aligns at varying depths. By doing so, he displays both the physical and mental flexibility the viewer can have while observing his works.

    Hong Sungchul embraces modern technology in his creative endeavors. The profound impact of his tactile work allows us to grasp a deep understanding with just a single touch. Through his various approaches, Hong communicates profound messages using strings and the portrayal of hands. Elastic strings are intricately printed and individually strung, creating mesmerizing imagery. This meticulous process leads to the strings harmoniously enveloping the artwork, allowing them to be played like a harp, adding a dynamic and interactive dimension to the visual experience.
    Hong’s use of various media and modern technology prompts interaction and performance from his viewers. His works never fully reveal themselves upon a viewer’s initial glance, thereby communicating the deep desire for human contact within society. As his works exude a ghostly quality, they call for their viewers to question their visual sense and abandon their sole reliance on their eyes and use their bodies and voices to prompt cooperation with the works. Stripping away the isolating experience traditionally encountered within art galleries, Hong initiates a dialogue both with and between viewers, instilling the sense of community so prised in Korean culture. Hong’s current body of work revives his string concept – a visual representation of what ties humans together from the earliest stage of life – the umbilical cord. These strings, upon which an image is printed, are staggered in his works and interlace to reveal a final representation – one of support or loneliness.
    Hong’s artworks have been exhibited globally, such as in HADA Contemporary and Saatchi Gallery in London, UK, Galerie Orem in Paris, France, Kallenbach Gallery in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Waterfall Gallery in NYC, Anthony Brunelli Fine Arts in NY, CalArts in LA, and Gallery IHN, Seoul, Korea. His work was commissioned and is permanently installed at the NIKE HQ in Beaverton, Oregon as part of the Lebron James Innovation Center.
    Hong Sungchul completed both his MFA and BFA in sculpture at Hongik University in Seoul before completing another MFA in Integrated Media at California Institute of the Arts.
    While hands are instrumental in our daily activities, they also serve as a means to convey awkwardness, anger, affection, and a sense of closeness. In Hong's creations, hands appear to possess an insight that eludes us, evoking feelings of emptiness and a disconnection from community or environment.
    In some of his pieces, hands cross each other, entwining in a grasp that signifies complex emotions. In a world where digital conceptualization often overshadows tangible reality, Sungchul provocatively questions the significance of unity, exploring the proximity predetermined by assumptions and societal structures that define the real in cultural associations.

    Artworks by Hong Sungchul
    String Eyes 1493
    String Eyes 1493

    Hong Sungchul String Eyes 1493 $28,000

    String Folds 7248

    Hong Sungchul String Folds 7248 $7,000

    String Hands 0325

    Hong Sungchul String Hands 0325 SOLD

    String Hands 0362
    String Hands 0362

    Hong Sungchul String Hands 0362 $30,000

    String Hands 0823

    Hong Sungchul String Hands 0823 $38,000

    String Hands 1624
    String Hands 1624

    Hong Sungchul String Hands 1624 $45,000

    String Hands 5496

    Hong Sungchul String Hands 5496 $28,000

    String Hands 6854

    Hong Sungchul String Hands 6854 $8,000

    String Hands 8605

    Hong Sungchul String Hands 8605 $7,000

    String Hands C 0237

    Hong Sungchul String Hands C 0237 $3,500

    Strings 2925

    Hong Sungchul Strings 2925 SOLD

    Strings 5438
    Strings 5438

    Hong Sungchul Strings 5438 $28,000