Thonson, Knight and Bettiga Galleries
Beyond Photography started in the early 1970s when Suk Choo Kim experimented with Polaroid SX-70 film, manipulating the emulsion to create painterly, jewel-like images. Despite the small format limitation, the project initiated a lasting creative interest. Decades later, after a gastric cancer diagnosis, Suk Choo revisited the concept, using his studio time for therapeutic purposes. This exhibition acknowledges his 54-year journey in photography and highlights his contributions to the medium until his passing in 2024.
Suk Choo Kim studied engineering and mathematics in college, but it was the photography classes he took on the side that engaged his interest. This interest grew during the two summers (1971, 1972) Kim spent volunteering for the Friends of Photography in Carmel, California, where he met and analyzed the work of notable photographers like Wynn Bullock, Brett Weston, Morris Bear and Ansel Adams.
Kim continued his primary studies, eventually working as an engineer and business executive, yet his passion for photography remained significant. He served as an army staff photographer during his military service in the 1970s; founded Youngsang, a Korean photo magazine in 1975; and had major exhibitions at Friends of Photography, the Oakland Museum, the University of Florida in Gainesville, the Pacific Grove Art Center, and the Monterey Museum of Modern Art. His work was also included in a United States Information Service (USIS) exhibition that traveled to eight cities in Korea and Japan.
Kim later returned to school to earn a master’s degree in photography, allowing him to teach the subject that influenced his career.