A Bold Attention Opening Night 

Suh YongSun

On the corner of 7th Avenue and West 55th – in other words, around the block from veteran arts institutions that include MOMA, Gershwin Theatre, and Carnegie Hall – stands the vibrant contemporary arts space Gallery Chang. The New York City venue was founded just three years ago, and since then, it has begun to truly make its mark in the heart of Manhattan's cultural district. A unique position of the space is its framing of East-West dialogue as the curatorial theme – which was truly capitalized on for the Opening Reception of artist Suh YongSun’s A Bold Attention. The event took place at the cusp of Spring, with the season welcoming both bright flowers and Yongsun’s colorful paintings.

For those unfamiliar with the artist’s practice, take note: Yongsun is one of those rare artists who has pursued continuity of praxis over trendsetting. The result is a cohesive visual language, one constructed over decades and across continents, with Yongsun having exhibited around the world at notable venues including London’s Gallery 12 and the Wooguanjoon Museum annexed Gallery in Singapore. Of course, his predominant social milieu is within South Korea, where his work is well known and celebrated. In 2009, he was awarded “Artist of the Year,” and in 2024, he received the National Academy of Arts of the Republic of Korea Award.

However, as is the case with the vast majority of international artists, the reality of cultivating an audience who are largely new to one’s work is one which Yongsun was well prepared for. Although multiple longtime fans of his work were present at the April 9th reception, many of the guests were viewing his pieces for the first time. This made the Artist Talk especially useful–as it gave the audience an opportunity to engage with his work in a direct manner.

During preparations for his talk, Yongsun emphasized the importance of embracing his discomfort with the English language (though he speaks very well) as it would especially enrich viewers’ understanding of his perspective in painting the City Series, which features works that depict Rockefeller Center and Metropolitan Avenue. New Yorkers in attendance at the event were especially struck by these works, expressing excitement with the familiarity. On the other hand, they had many questions about Yongsun’s historical paintings, with most Americans being unfamiliar with South Korean annals.

Despite their lack of knowledge on the events depicted in these works – King Danjong’s legacy or the lasting impact of the Autumn Uprising – our Western audience was curious to hear more about the artist’s perspective on both these works and on the entirety of the exhibition itself. For the Artist Talk, 60 attendees gathered tightly within the gallery to hear him speak and to ask him questions about the work directly. The talk was hosted in both English and Korean, with Arts Coordinator Celestina Billington moderating, Gallery Manager Jinnie Kang translating, and the gallery’s owners, Ara & Junhwa Chang, hosting.

Of the works on display, most are exclusively held by Gallery Chang and are very new (2026). They were made in Middletown at the HOUSE by The Bank Art Foundation, a private artist cultivation program promoting the development of new works by contemporary masters.