〈Han River, Seoul〉(2011) illustrates the changing city through Kim Soohyun’s unique sensuous gaze. During the period of rapid economic growth in South Korea, the Han River (Hangang River) district in Seoul was neatly gentrified and the surrounding neighborhood facilities were also renovated. The Han River and Han River Park became pleasant attractions for Seoul citizens to enjoy their free time. Kim captured the scenery of South Korea during this period, and featured confused and helpless people facing abrupt changes. In the work, some people seem to have accepted the change without much pain while others were helplessly swept away. Even though the work is wonderfully calm and sophisticated, it keenly catches an encounter with an unfamiliar reality.
Kim Soohyun (1979- ) graduated from the Department of Textiles, Merchandising, and Fashion Design at Seoul National University in 2005 and received an M.A. in photography design at the College of Fine Arts & Design, Hongik University in 2010. He later earned a B.A. and M.A. in photography at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2013 and 2015. He held diverse solo exhibitions including 《Festival》 (Gana Art Space, Seoul, 2009), 《Oopx》 (Gallery NUDA, Daejeon, 2010), and 《Guryong Village in Seoul》(Silver Eye Center for Photography, Pittsburgh, USA, 2018). He also participated in group exhibitions such as 《The Past and Present of Korean Photography》 (Sejong Museum of Art, Seoul, 2005), 《Interpretation of the City》 (Gallery Topohaus, Seoul, 2007), 《Sentiment and Gaze》 (Gallery Now, Seoul, 2008), 《Photo Review 2012 Competition Prize Winners》 (The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, USA, 2012), 《Tracing Affinities》 (Sullivan Gallery, Chicago, USA, 2013), 《Art Prize Seven》 (Grand Rapids Community College Art Gallery, Grand Rapids, USA, 2015), and 《Front & Center》 (Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, USA, 2017).
Kim Soohyun learned photography through an apprenticeship under photographer Kim Young Soo for eight years starting from his time at Seoul National University. At the recommendation of Kim Young Soo, he served as a lecturer at the Photography Academy of the Korean Photographer Association (Minjok Sajinga Hyeopoe) and continued to participate in special photography exhibitions. Due to this background, Kim Soohyun’s photographs provide a sharp look at history, society, city, and lives of people. He moved to the U.S. in 2012, where he continued to study photography at the Chicago School of Arts, taught at Saint Xavier University, and work in the photography scene in the U.S. He is living and working in the Chicago area.
