SHIN SUNG HY: COUTURAGE, NOUAGE

Gallery Hyundai is pleased to present a solo exhibition, Couturage, Nouage, by Shin Sung Hy (1948–2009) that marks the artist’s 10th solo exhibition with the gallery.

February 5 - March 16, 2025

In the 1980s, Shin Sung Hy’s paintings stood out in the Korean art world for their vibrant colors and distinctive techniques, such as “tearing up thick cardboard to create collages” and “pierced space,” which define his unique creative style. During the IMF financial crisis (1998–2000), Gallery Hyundai transported dozens of his new nouage series works to Art Basel in Basel by renting a truck in Paris, achieving sold-out records three years in a row. This collaboration cemented a significant and valuable relationship that continues to this day.

Couturage, Nouage revisits Shin Sung Hy’s artistic vision of deconstructing the flat canvas to create multidimensional spaces where events unfold, delving into the essence of painting. The exhibition highlights Shin’s groundbreaking contributions to Korean painting history, particularly through his “knotted-canvas” series, nouage, considered the pinnacle of his artistic practice. A total of thirty-two major works spanning over forty years of Shin’s creative journey are on display, offering a retrospective look at the artist’s evolving creative journey, marked by significant shifts in Shin’s practice approximately every decade.

The couturage and nouage series, in particular, represent a pivotal expansion of Shin Sung Hy’s artistic vision in painting. By deconstructing completed abstract paintings through sewing, knotting, and weaving, Shin transcended the two-dimensional flat canvas, transforming it into a three-dimensional space and site of dynamic interaction. By breaking the flatness of painting and introducing three-dimensional volume and spatiality to the canvas, Shin’s couturage and nouage series are regarded as a revolution in painting comparable to collage.

The painterly spaces constructed through sewing and weaving represent a significant evolution within the legacy of 20th-century artists, pushing the boundaries of the medium. Shin Sung Hy’s work is deeply rooted in Korean traditions, yet boldly embraces Western influences, creating a unique and compelling dialogue between the two. In this context, Shin's work can be considered both unique and unparalleled.