Kim Sunwoo

Korean, b. 1988

The image of Kim Sunwoo depicts dodos roaming freely in a lush, grassy forest, evoking a sense of tranquility. These Mauritian dodos, once thought to be extinct, appear vibrant and alive on the canvas, isolated from human presence. Gathered together, they engage in playful dances and occasionally become iconic figures in renowned paintings. Kim encountered the tragic fate of the dodos and projected a modern man onto these forgotten flyers, symbolizing the loss of human freedom and the degradation of our desires under the constraints of standardized rules. In this context, KIM’s dodos transcend their cute appearance, serving as a metaphor for the state of our society, where unpredictable dangers lurk. Despite the somber tone, the artist maintains a glimmer of hope in his landscape, featuring dodos occasionally gazing up at the sky or soaring gracefully in balloons. This imagery suggests that both the dodos and humanity possess the potential to regain their former glory and transcend their current limitations.