Korean artist Koh Sangwoo, known for capturing his subjects with negative films, has recently published a book titled “20 Years”, a complete collection of his works to date.
It provides us with a glimpse of the raw, inner workings of his thought process and also shows us how his style has evolved over the past two decades. While “20 Years” showcases Koh’s signature “blue tone” works, it also contains poems written by him and snippets from his diary. Acting as “editor’s notes”, these provide further insight for readers.
Through this publication, Koh takes us on a journey through his art, tells a story of connection and urges the readers to think deeper on the meaning of his story.
By capturing his subjects in their most vulnerable form in the negative, Koh Sangwoo is reshaping the way in which we look and understand the world and others around us. A visual artist who incorporates photography, performance, and painting in an effort to challenge how we see ourselves and the environment we live in.
Koh describes his works as a performance — layering pieces, colour, movement and capturing the essence of it into a still shot. He is an artist who prides himself in standing up for what he believes in.
Koh, born to a family of artists in Seoul, travelled to the US to study art. To him, the idea of having more creativity and vision was what attracted him to study abroad instead of staying in South Korea. Thereafter, he went on to graduate from the Chicago School of Art Institute in 2001.
With the release of his new book, Koh continues to push the boundaries of how we see the world around us.
If you’d like to learn more about his book, click here.