Sung I Chun, an artist originally from Seoul, South Korea, and a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, unveils a compelling new chapter in her artistic journey at Shift Gallery (2020). While previously known in both Chicago and Seattle for her mesmerizing depictions of light on water, Chun’s current exhibit marks a profound shift towards autobiographical expression, delving into what she describes as the “mundane elements” of her fragmented identity. This transformation was inspired by Do Ho Suh: Speculations (2024) exhibition highlighting installations and films documenting the orderly arrangement of objects within a home, deeply influenced Chun’s piece, “Food, Clothing, and Shelter”.
Tired of presenting a “distinctive scripted speech” that felt disconnected from her authentic self, Chun embarked on a process of deconstruction, fragmenting her feelings and experiences to create something more honest and raw. This exhibit fearlessly confronts the economic realities, personal finances, and material needs that often weigh us down.
Food, Clothing, and Shelter (2024) vividly embodies this exploration, crafted with digitally printed dollar bills – not the usual ones we see every day, but the less common $2, $50, $100, and $500 denominations. The clothing features US presidents’ faces cut away from the currency, draped on a white t-shirt, while the jeans are entirely coated in dollar bills. Even the food utensils are origami-wrapped in dollar bills, and the tablecloth is comprised of $2 bills. This striking choice of materials speaks to something many of us can relate to: a pre-occupation with economic stability and having enough to meet our basic needs. These anxieties are felt in the rapidly changing economic landscape of South Korea, where the government is actively trying to foster a ‘creative economy‘, and also here in Seattle, where the cost of living is constantly on the rise. Chun’s work taps into these shared concerns, making us think about the role money plays in our lives and how it shapes our sense of security.
Beyond Food, Clothing, and Shelter, the exhibit features a large concave mirror composed of broken shards, an Lifeglass (2024) hourglass filled with her daily photographs, Pensieve Positive vs Negative (2024) cylinders for positive and negative thoughts, a jewelry box containing symbolic body parts, a coffee cup representing sensory organs, and a pinwheel of disseminated features experimenting with kineticism. A small, soft body curled in a fetal position represents Chun in moments of vulnerability, while the exhibit culminates in a portal, symbolizing what lies beyond.
There is still opportunity to witness Sung I Chun’s powerful transformation and connect with her deeply personal exploration of the everyday. Sung I Chun will also be participating in the Seattle Art Fair in July.
