The Ansan series brings Soowhan’s small woodland hometown in South Korea to life. The negative space left between the lit-up sky produces the image of wild, twisting trees. Similarly, his Forest series depicts the mountainous Bukhansan National Park, placing the viewer within the forest atmosphere.

Soowhan’s elaborate images of waterfalls and bouquets are created through the diligent mapping and manipulation of light. The artist utilizes the contrast of light and dark to constitute space and time, portraying sunlight and water. The apparent movement of water and shadows creates the photorealistic idea of a moment in time, frozen and captured by Soowhan.

Choi Soowhan drills holes of various sizes (0.4-3mm) in black acrylic plates of plexiglass or laminate to create expressively naturalistic and detailed works. The works are then illuminated by LED backlighting, transforming and emphasizing the immaculate, photorealistic landscapes and florals created from the negative space. His precision and masterful manipulation of material and light create texture, form, and substance.

South Korean artist Choi Soowhan was born in Gyeongju, Korea in 1972. He conducted his postgraduate studies at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago after receiving his B.F.A. from Chugye University of the Arts in Seoul, where he is now a professor.

He has exhibited works at exhibitions in South Korea, the UK, and the USA and has been featured in such esteemed collections as the Galesburg Civic Art Centre in Illinois, the Seoul Museum of Art and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in South Korea.