Who is Thomas Insuk Hong?

Thomas Insuk Hong is a South Korean-born American artist and educator. He is known for his work with the body, often using ritual and performance to explore the relationship between self and society. Hong has exhibited his work throughout the United States and internationally, including at the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Venice Biennale.

Early Life and Education:

- Born in Seoul, South Korea, in 1981

- Studied at Seoul National University, where he earned a B.F.A. in oriental painting

- Completed an M.F.A. in painting and drawing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Career and Work:

- Hong's work often addresses issues of identity, memory, and cultural displacement

- Uses a combination of performance, installation, video, and photography to create immersive experiences that involve the viewer

- Explores how rituals and performances can transform and empower the body

- Collaborates with diverse communities and communities to create participatory artworks

Awards and Recognition:

- Joan Mitchell Foundation Painters & Sculptors Grant

- Guggenheim Fellowship

- Artadia Award

- Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award

Teaching:

- Hong is an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania, where he teaches in the Department of Fine Arts

- Also teaches workshops and lectures at institutions internationally