Portrait of Sookkyung Park
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Sookkyung Park

Sculpture / Installation, Visual / Media

About the Artist

Sookkyung Park established an Arts & Crafts studio in 1982 and maintained the studio for 25 years in South Korea. In 2011, she emigrated in her age 50's and received a B.A. in Studio Arts from University of Maryland, College Park in 2016. After graduating, she selected in several regional and international juried exhibitions. Her works have been featured in many publications, including The Washington Post, The Korea Times, East City Art, Bmore Art, MAP, WSG news, AA&CC, Maryland State Arts Council and etc. Sookkyung continued to ponder the concept that could do best and was familiar with, she found out that it was a paper. This is because she had been working on paper-related works for 25 years. In 2019, to further develop this concept, she decided to apply to TU MFA Program. Sookkyung continues to have a broader perspective on paper while exploring the harmony between origami and bamboo and traditional paper as well. Park is currently TU MFA Candidate 2023. 

Sookkyung Park website Sookkyung Park

Artist's Statement

In my works, I express the inspiration I get from encountering nature, the emotions felt in the field of accidental life, and the old memories kept in my heart. I believe that our society is harmonious because people are different with individual dignities, which is one of the philosophies of life. I was born and raised in the divided country of Korea where I desperately dreamed of a peaceful society. My ideology manifest in my artistic practice through form, color, shape, similarity, difference, harmony and complexity. I use paper as the primary medium in my sculptures. Paper was said to be invented in ancient China and introduced into Korea around the 3rd century and has been a familiar material to Koreans for a long time. I spent much of my childhood folding paper, making kites, and flying them in the sky. I lived in a house where the windows and the floors of the rooms were made of paper. As such, paper has rich personal and cultural connections for me. During the pandemic period, I folded nearly 10,000 pieces of paper to relieve anxiety and gain peace of mind. Folding numerous papers naturally made me think of my identity and culture. In my current body of works, I explore the topic of connection between people by folding hundreds of small pieces of paper that are bound tightly with thread creating a connected and unified structure. There is a cultural tradition of thinking that threads are a medium that connects people. In order to express this theme, various materials of paper are selected, and the characteristic softness is emphasized to create a single shape. I express the harmony of community through the papers, colors and structural forms. In addition, paper is a material that has both softness and strength. It is my point of view to use these material characteristics of paper to express ideas and philosophies realized beyond nature, people, and culture. 

Featured Work

Photos

I believe that one small seed is the source, from which a new living organism is born. This work was created to convey the meaning that if we always live with hope, our lives will bear abundant fruit just as the roots of a plant grow infinitely. Using white traditional paper, you can clearly see how the paper textures are interconnected. This is to show how the roots of a tree are connected to each other. In addition, to balance the movement, each shape was connected with thread to create a mobile sculpture.
Last summer, I visited South Korea. The one reason was to see stone pagodas. About 10 years ago, one person built 120 stone pagodas in thirty years. Currently, about 80 stone pagodas remain, and they are well-preserved without collapsing in and bad weather. The sight was beyond my imagination. The stone pagodas inspired me and I started folding countless piece of paper. The process of folding paper has become a way for me to get peace of mind from many real-world thoughts and anxieties. During this process, I realized once again the common truth that our daily life is constantly changing, but nature does not change. I decided to express the unchanging nature. The mountain was produced with a focus on the fact that the stone tower was built on the middle of a high mountain.
Buddhism has influenced the lives of Koreans for a long time as a religion rather than a lifestyle. Even today, temples are located in various places of interest. So many young workers who are tired of modern life are looking for a resting place, and at the same time, they are firmly established as a religion. "Guidance I" was created by reminiscent of a Buddha statue located at the entrance or center of a temple.
The open presence of the sea is always spacious and cool, giving a feeling of being open of the mind. For me, the blue also suggest a strong will, a spirit of challenge, and the ability to flow freely. When I was in my 20's, I often travelled to the sea if I had time. I used to dream of many thoughts and futures as I looked endlessly at the open sea. Those memories and reflections still exist in my heart.
I went to the nearest beach with a frustrated heart because I could not come up with my more ideas. One idea came to me the moment I saw the Bay Bridge far away from the beach there. Several curves built on a long bridge seemed to connect the sky and the sea. To me, it also gave the feeling of a dragon ascending into the sky. Reminiscent of white clouds, I decided not to paint any color in this piece.
A jar (Onggi) has been an indispensable daily container in Korean households since ancient time. Several large and small jars were placed on the side of the yard that was well lit by sunlight. To emphasize the importance of onggi, which has been used unchanged until now, I stacked the paper sculptures like a stone pagoda to show its firmness along with the five basic colors. Round jars are still used in Korea to store traditional seasonings. Through these works, I wanted to show the what we value in our daily lives changes rapidly, but the basics of life do not. As I fold countless pieces of paper, various thoughts drawn in my heart are born in new structures.