Suh Jeong Min
Born in 1962 in Jeollanam-do, South Korea
Suh Jeong Min’s ability to unite cultural heritage with contemporary artistic expression has earned him international recognition, with his works held in both private and public collections worldwide. At the core of Suh’s practice is his remarkable transformation of hanji from a centuries-old Korean material into a sophisticated and distinctly contemporary medium. Rather than simply preserving tradition, he continually challenges its boundaries, revealing new possibilities through form, texture and repetition. His meticulously constructed works possess a quiet yet powerful presence. Layers of hand-shaped paper create intricate surfaces in which light, shadow and perspective are constantly shifting, inviting the viewer to move closer and discover the extraordinary detail behind each composition. Through this dialogue between tradition and innovation, Suh creates works that are deeply rooted in Korean cultural heritage while speaking to universal ideas of balance, time, contemplation and the human experience. The result is a body of work that feels both timeless and contemporary — an elegant synthesis of craftsmanship, cultural identity and modern abstraction.
Works CV
Art
Suh Jeong Min is a contemporary Korean artist whose distinctive practice transforms hanji — traditional Korean handmade paper — into intricate, sculptural works of remarkable depth and precision.
Deeply rooted in Korean cultural heritage, hanji has been used for centuries for its strength, versatility and natural beauty. In Suh’s hands, however, the material takes on an entirely new dimension. Through an exceptionally meticulous process of rolling, folding, layering and assembling countless individual pieces by hand, he creates compositions that exist at the intersection of painting, sculpture and relief.
From a distance, Suh’s works possess a striking sense of serenity and balance. Their abstract compositions appear almost architectural or organic, shaped by rhythm, repetition and subtle variations in form. Up close, an extraordinary level of craftsmanship is revealed: thousands of carefully constructed paper elements create complex surfaces that respond continuously to light, shadow and perspective.
Suh’s artistic practice is closely connected to Buddhist philosophy and ideas of contemplation, repetition and mindfulness. The slow, meditative nature of his working process is as significant as the finished artwork itself. Each repeated gesture becomes part of a larger whole, reflecting themes of harmony, time and the interconnectedness of life.
By reimagining one of Korea’s most traditional materials through a contemporary visual language, Suh Jeong Min creates a compelling dialogue between heritage and modernity. His works are at once powerful and understated, inviting the viewer to slow down, look closer and discover the complexity that lies beneath their seemingly tranquil surfaces.