Suwa Shin

b. 2000 South Korea

Based in Seoul (South Korea)

‘For me, art and the artist’s role serve as a plausible alibi – a strategic means to engage with others while dealing with social and political issues. As I believe art is a medium through which hundreds of strangers engage, pass through and connect, I actively construct new relational dynamics and try to offer a critical lens on the ways we negotiate space, trust and intimacy in contemporary society. 

I want my audience to imagine how they would respond if an artist suddenly approached them in their daily lives in the name of Art. Would they let a woman into their home simply because she asked to take a shower? I see these questions as a way for modern individuals to reflect on their own boundaries when it comes to ‘art’ and ‘relationships.’ Additionally, it would be even more interesting if they also considered why this woman has become someone who longs so deeply for connection. 

I believe that belonging is, on the one hand, fluid and always an object of desire, yet on the other hand, it carries a sense of permanence that can be oppressive. It exists in a space where listening and silence coexist, and I think humans spend their entire lives searching for that balance. In particular, relationships are the most crucial factor in determining the quality of one’s sense of belonging.’

suwa.creatorlink.net
instagram.com/suwa_shin_scent

Images:

1- Suwa Shin, Asking Woman, 2024, from the series Be 누 (累) [Soap (Be an Inconvenience / Impoliteness)] © Suwa Shin, sponsored by Gyeon-gi Cultural Foundation 

2-Suwa Shin, Waiting Woman, 2024, from the series Be 누 (累) [Soap (Be an Inconvenience / Impoliteness)] © Suwa Shin, sponsored by Gyeon-gi Cultural Foundation 

3-Suwa Shin, Last Shower, 2024, from the series Be 누 (累) [Soap (Be an Inconvenience / Impoliteness)] © Suwa Shin, sponsored by Gyeon-gi Cultural Foundation 

4-Suwa Shin, Third Flowered Neighbor, 2024, from the series Be 누 (累) [Soap (Be an Inconvenience / Impoliteness)] © Suwa Shin, sponsored by Gyeon-gi Cultural Foundation

5-Suwa Shin, Second Shower, 2024, from the series Be 누 (累) [Soap (Be an Inconvenience / Impoliteness)] © Suwa Shin, sponsored by Gyeon-gi Cultural Foundation 

6-Suwa Shin, Eighth Shower, 2024, from the series Be 누 (累) [Soap (Be an Inconvenience / Impoliteness)] © Suwa Shin, sponsored by Gyeon-gi Cultural Foundation 

Bringing together 66 artists from across the world, Photo Elysée recently celebrated emerging talent with the exhibition Gen Z: Shaping a New Gaze, currently on display at Fotografie Forum Frankfurt, Germany, until 30 August 2026. As media partner, 1000 Words is featuring the work and accompanying texts of all participating artists in our weekly column dedicated to new voices in contemporary photography.