Insa: Sound at First Touch | 인사: 맞닿은 첫 울림

Suzy Kim’s solo exhibition, Insa: Sound at First Touch, invites viewers to a contemplative space where touch, sound, and cultural memory converge. Immersing the audience into a void, to experience moments of stillness captured in the flow of time.

The artist filters out the noise in her mind while in the studio, confronting her pure state of mind through artistic creation. In the studio, Suzy pares creation down to its essence: the repetition of a single mark, a rhythmic pulse between body and canvas. In particular, the repetitive patterns that prominently appear in her works reflect how she becomes one with her creations. Thus, her works visualize the rhythm created in the moment when mind, body, and spirit unite, expanding their outer dimensions to become one, inviting viewers to feel the pulse of life’s stillness.

This exhibition marks Suzy Kim’s first solo exhibition, a dedication as a Korean artist to the world. Influenced by the meditative and bodily traditions of Dansaekhwa she engages in deep conversations with Korean artists, reflecting on her personal identity. The artist’s meditative practice transforms the simple act of a bow—insa—into a profound exploration of presence and connection. It allows her to reflect upon her Korean identity and emphasize the importance of tradition and ritual in her work. The cascading bowing of the head, and the repetition of the lines drawn by the body create a geometric balance.

To achieve this balance, she begins by molding the body’s form in adhesive, layering paint over it before carefully peeling away the hardened shape to reveal an imprint. She then fills the imprint with a coat of paint, repeating this process to build layers. This process mirrors traditional Korean practices, where repetition is not a mere habit, but a path to transcendence. The resulting works are not just paintings but preserved performances, each layer a record of time, each stroke a dialogue between discipline and spontaneity.

Sound is the invisible thread weaving through the exhibition. The looping audio fills the gallery with a vibrational undercurrent, pulling the audience into a trance. These auditory elements blur the line between art and environment, turning the space into a sanctuary for collective introspection. The reverberating pulse embedded in the works and the repetitive rhythm represent a dialogue between the past and present, as well as the beat of Korean identity.

The results of the artist’s Korean identity immersed with bodily transformed into modern abstraction are expected to provide viewers with a unique experience that traverses the boundaries of familiarity and unfamiliarity. Moreover, The Stroll Gallery hopes this exhibition will serve as an opportunity for viewers to encounter the rhythm that exists within themselves, beyond mere visual appreciation.