Interview
Starya Hee-seung Sung
Starya is a Korean artist who studied in the U.S. and U.K..
She has a PhD in Fine Art from Kookmin University, as well as having studied Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship and associate research in Art, from Goldsmiths University of London.
Starya’s work is best described as a sublime experiential expression of space to expand the boundaries of ego.
The concepts of ‘action’ and ‘space’ are the basis of her artwork throughout both her first art chapter, called the ‘Performance Period (2003-2014)’, and the second chapter called ‘Star Period (2014-2022)’. 'Star Period', where she expresses the spirit of the universe and the experience of sublimity by focusing on ‘star’, expresses a formative will through the performative act of artwork, repeatedly attempting to ‘breakout’ through various media activities, not limited to the ‘illusion’ it creates through the ‘performance’ of various workflows. Starya has had numerous art collaborations with a large company like LG, with performing art on stage at Gyeonggi Art Center theater, and with a landmark architect collaboration with Space, an architecture company in Korea. Her paintings have influenced each other's field in literature, science, fashion and architecture.
Starya is currently a visiting scholar at New York University(NYU) and lives in New York City, but she lives a nomadic artist life, commuting between London, New York, Beijing and Seoul.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I came to a realization that I have a distinguished sense of both seeing and approaching the creative process as a whole, and I try to reveal this in my art. I inherited this artistic trait, and started drawing and painting from the early age of 3. I’m Korean and come from a family of artists. My parents were fashion designers, and my father still does calligraphy using Asian ink on paper. My grandfather was a photographer and poet.
I started my art career as a child, went to art high school, then later to universities for BFA, MFA, MA and PhD in Fine Art. I have enjoyed a glamorous academic background with a global sense and experience.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“Just like my nickname Starya, or Star Painter, I paint abstracts of the starlight or fractal— the pattern of life or truth. I define my work as hyper-abstract, which means it's very realistic in technique and concept, like photo-realism or hyper-realism, but I pursue this realism in an abstract way. My underlying message is about the ‘triple universe theory’ through a hyper-abstract technique or as I sometimes call it, ‘triangle abstract’. The motif of the star makes up my triangle pattern, and it multiplies infinitely beyond the canvas. The first universe in the triple universe is any kind of material element. The second stage is the mental and inner universe, while the third is the spiritual universe.”
“Art is a medium for spreading the influence of good, trying to give people good things and a harmonious world. To harmonize the universe with man.”
How would you describe your work?
“My work is about love and hope, using point, line and plane to have an experiential space with sublime beauty and multiple perspectives within flat painting. The star and triple universe theory— substance (material), mental (inner) to spiritual— expressed with 'hyper-abstractionism'. The color and the thickness of paint and water works emotionally and logically with line and plane.”
What artists influence you most?
“There 2 artists that have influenced me: Vincent van Gogh and Gerhard Richter.”
What is your creative process like?
"When I decide to write a poem or make a drawing, it takes quite a long time to get started. I usually take some time to think of different ways of presenting the piece. I also pray and spend some quiet time by myself. Prayer time is special and gives me inspiration. When I feel I’m ready, I don’t start by sketching, but paint directly on the white canvas.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“It's tremendous. In the age of the knowledge economy, art stimulates and develops intellectually in humans, and brings about great inspiration and creativity. In the future, more art in human culture, especially fine art, will play a great role as the center of the knowledge economy. It will be the job of the artist to do this.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I have had 100 exhibitions in the last 20 years as a professional artist. My most recent ones are:
2022:
- Chief curator in Saatchi picked my work among many abstract works. You can read about it here.
- I have received an invitation to exhibit in a group exhibition at Korean Cultural Center. This will be held in Paris, France, in March of this year.2021:
I just had my 24th solo exhibition in Sejong Art museum in Seoul, and my 25th solo is coming up soon in New York.”
Instagram: @starlon_starya, @starya_hee_seung_sung
Other: Facebook
