Koh Sang-woo’s Haunting Art in ‘Still Breathing’ Exhibition
By Darren Smith, Arts Reporter
May 3, 2026
In the quiet galleries of the Savina Museum of Contemporary Art in northern Seoul’s Eunpyeong District, a new exhibition invites viewers to confront the fragile yet tenacious threads of life. Titled “Still Breathing,” Korean-American artist Koh Sang-woo’s latest solo show transforms personal encounters with wounded and abused animals into haunting, empathetic portraits that challenge perceptions of vulnerability and worth.
The exhibition, which opened on May 2, 2026, aligns with this year’s International Council of Museums (ICOM) theme, “Museums Uniting a Divided World.” Through digital paintings and documentation of fieldwork, Koh poses a deceptively simple question: If a being is still breathing, does it not deserve every chance at dignity and survival?
Born in Seoul in 1978, Koh emigrated to the United States at age 13, settling in a small West Virginia town where he stood out as the only person with black hair and dark eyes. This experience of otherness profoundly shaped his signature blue-inversion technique. Starting with photographs taken during extensive fieldwork, Koh layers digital painting until the original image largely dissolves into luminous blue tones. “I thought of it as the most discriminated-against color,” the artist explained. Historically shunned in Western painting until it adorned the Virgin Mary’s mantle, blue here becomes a unifying, empathetic hue that transcends borders.
“Still Breathing” marks Koh’s second exhibition at Savina, following a 2022 show focused on endangered species. While the earlier project operated at a broader ecological scale, the current works zoom in on individual stories of suffering and care. “The sea and the sky have no borders,” Koh noted. “Animals can pass through freely, which is exactly why they can be a medium that connects a divided world.”
Central to the exhibition are large-scale portraits of spotted seals photographed off Baengnyeong Island, part of a collaboration with WWF Korea. Koh spent two years observing the colony, which navigates waters near the North Korean coast. One pivotal moment—a four-week-old pup holding his gaze for about 10 seconds—anchors a series of digital works. These images capture not just the animals’ physical presence but their quiet resilience amid geopolitical divides.
Above: A spotted seal pup, reminiscent of those captured in Koh Sang-woo’s Baengnyeong Island series for “Still Breathing.” (Image via DongA Science)
Another significant body of work stems from Koh’s partnership with Cheongju Zoo, Korea’s first designated rehabilitation hub for abused or irreleasable animals. Initially opposed to zoos, Koh reconsidered after witnessing dedicated care for creatures unable to return to the wild. Standout pieces include portraits of Hana, a vulture rescued after collapsing with a deformed beak that prevents hunting; Sero, a zebra who dramatically scaled enclosure bars in 2023 after losing his mother and calf; and a rabbit blinded during cosmetic testing, its eyes peering through mascara wands depicted as prison bars.
These narratives highlight human-induced harm alongside acts of compassion. By naming the animals and detailing their backstories, Koh humanizes them, fostering emotional connections that statistics alone cannot achieve. The fifth floor gathers supporting materials—drawings, videos, and records of Koh’s public advocacy—underscoring his role not merely as an observer but as an active participant in conservation dialogues.
Koh Sang-woo’s practice masterfully blends photography, performance, and digital painting. Critics have praised his ability to render reality through a fictional, inverted lens, prompting viewers to reconsider their gaze toward the “other”—whether animal or human. His works have been exhibited internationally, and he was listed among Korea’s 100 most important contemporary artists.
Curated by Savina Museum director Lee Myung-ok, who describes Koh as possessing “a warm gaze toward the socially vulnerable,” the exhibition benefits from support by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, ICOM Korea, and Cheongju city. It runs through May 31, 2026.
In an era of environmental crisis and polarized societies, “Still Breathing” serves as both elegy and call to empathy. Koh’s blue worlds dissolve boundaries, reminding us that survival often hinges on collective will.
Visit the Savina Museum of Contemporary Art (official site) before May 31 to experience “Still Breathing” in person. Learn more about Koh Sang-woo’s work via his Instagram and support organizations like WWF Korea. Every action helps preserve the dignity of lives still breathing. Share your reflections using #StillBreathingKoh.
