$32,000
Phobophobia is the fear of fear itself. To me, it also evokes an attitude of refusing to look deeply, turning away after seeing only what is visible on the surface. During one winter when repeated blows from a strangely mutated form of influenza seemed to wear away both my body and mind, an internal winter that I could speak of to no one—and the deeply contagious depression within it—isolated and confined me. This work is a self-portrait painted during a winter in the period of COVID-19. At the time, I could not go anywhere and remained shut inside my home. As my inner world gradually changed, it became so desolate and unbearable that I felt as though I were trapped in a slaughterhouse, on the verge of suffocation. I wanted to escape, yet I could not. The painting began with a question: if my inner self, trapped in this condition, could be scanned with a CT machine, what would it look like? This work is my attempt to visualize that interior state.
Artwork details+
- Medium
- Acrylic on canvas
- Size
- 130 cm x 162 cm x 3 cm
- Year
- 2018
- Signature
- Sung Byunghee
- Edition
- Unique work
- Certificate
- Certificate of Authenticity issued by the gallery
Shipping & taxes+
- Ships from the gallery's location (set per work, defaults to the gallery address)
- Cost calculated at checkout by destination
- Optional full insurance in transit
- Usually ships within 10 business days, fine-art packed
- In-person pickup available for some works (no shipping fee)
- Listed price may include VAT applicable in the seller's country or the work's place of shipment
- Duties, import VAT/GST, customs fees, and other taxes in the buyer's country are not included and are the buyer's responsibility
- These are assessed by the destination customs authority and billed separately by the carrier
- Sales tax may be added at checkout depending on jurisdiction
Sung Byunghee explores the intersection between personal anxiety and wounds and the tensions that arise within contemporary society. For Sung, art is not a form of consolation that conceals or softens pain, but a sharp tool that compels both the artist and the viewer to confront it directly. Rather than relying on literal representation, she constructs her paintings through symbols and metaphors, bringing together existential anxiety, the uncertainty of life, and the instability generated by social conditions. Beginning with deeply personal emotions and experiences, Sung expands them into a broader visual language that invites viewers to face their own wounds and, through that encounter, find the possibility of moving forward.
Go to artist page →
| Elevate Artists to the Center of Culture | Since its opening in 2019, Gallery Collast has consistently presented a diverse and unique range of solo and curated exhibitions. The name "Collast" is a meaningful fusion of "Collaboration" and "Artist," reflecting our commitment to creating creative works that spark a new wave in contemporary art through deep partnership with artists. Located in the vibrant and youthful district of Seongsu-dong, Seoul, we aim to introduce contemporary art to a broader public. Our mission is to facilitate multifaceted communication between artists and collectors, contributing to a virtuous cycle within the art market. Moving beyond the traditional "white cube" gallery format, we pursue a new gallery identity that rawly captures the artist's passion and energy. As an open space for everyone, we prioritize interactive exhibitions over one-way displays and actively support bold, adventurous artistic endeavors. We respect the diverse currents of contemporary art and believe that natural dialogue and an intimate atmosphere between artists and visitors can dismantle the barriers to the art world. Gallery Collast seeks new dimensions in contemporary art, moving forward with the conviction that freedom is the ultimate driver of innovation.
Go to gallery page →$32,000
Phobophobia is the fear of fear itself. To me, it also evokes an attitude of refusing to look deeply, turning away after seeing only what is visible on the surface. During one winter when repeated blows from a strangely mutated form of influenza seemed to wear away both my body and mind, an internal winter that I could speak of to no one—and the deeply contagious depression within it—isolated and confined me. This work is a self-portrait painted during a winter in the period of COVID-19. At the time, I could not go anywhere and remained shut inside my home. As my inner world gradually changed, it became so desolate and unbearable that I felt as though I were trapped in a slaughterhouse, on the verge of suffocation. I wanted to escape, yet I could not. The painting began with a question: if my inner self, trapped in this condition, could be scanned with a CT machine, what would it look like? This work is my attempt to visualize that interior state.
Artwork details+
- Medium
- Acrylic on canvas
- Size
- 130 cm x 162 cm x 3 cm
- Year
- 2018
- Signature
- Sung Byunghee
- Edition
- Unique work
- Certificate
- Certificate of Authenticity issued by the gallery
Shipping & taxes+
- Ships from the gallery's location (set per work, defaults to the gallery address)
- Cost calculated at checkout by destination
- Optional full insurance in transit
- Usually ships within 10 business days, fine-art packed
- In-person pickup available for some works (no shipping fee)
- Listed price may include VAT applicable in the seller's country or the work's place of shipment
- Duties, import VAT/GST, customs fees, and other taxes in the buyer's country are not included and are the buyer's responsibility
- These are assessed by the destination customs authority and billed separately by the carrier
- Sales tax may be added at checkout depending on jurisdiction
$32,000