Emil Goh, 1966–2009

by Alison Carroll & Sarah Bond
Asialink, November 2009

Emil Goh died suddenly on 7 September, in Seoul, South Korea, aged forty-three, of a heart attack.

We can hardly believe he was forty-three, as he was always seemingly, endlessly youthful: enthusiastic, engaged, dynamic, funny; always knowing the latest trend, where to go, what to do, who to meet, and, as the tributes to him all say, where to eat.

As he was timeless, so he defied spatial boundaries. He was born in Malaysia, and from the warm tributes pouring from there, loved and 'owned' by its art fraternity. He came to Australia to study in his late teens, and quickly became known to a lot of us then through his work, which was always challenging of society and also wry and engaging, but also because of who he was: wry, engaging, but also serious about his practice. He then went to study in London, before returning to Australia, and getting an Asialink visual arts residency in Seoul in 2003, from where, as we ruefully say, he never came home. As Beverly Yong has written in Malaysia, 'It didn't take long for Emil to take root in any of these communities, where he made literally hundreds of friends'. He was a man at home in the world both metaphorically and literally. and a role model for artists for whom all places are places in which to engage and contribute.

In Australia, Emil studied first in Newcastle and then Fine Art at Sydney College of the Arts, graduating in 1997. He was a founding member of Gallery 4A, `organising shows, designing catalogues and helping oversee the relocation in 2000 to upscale premises in Hay Street'. as Melissa Chiu wrote in tribute (Sydney Morning Herald 30 September 2009).

Fascinated by the dynamics of densely populated cities Emil's preoccupation with urban living found a home in Seoul. Emil often commented how many people were always asking him, Why Seoul?', and he would reply, Why not? - look around'. It was his fascination with living and working for the first time in a modern, homogenous society that continued to inspire him and his artworks.

Emil was trained in photography and sculpture but known to many for his video works that seamlessly integrated popular culture. Themes of Japanese horror films, hip-hop, cars, mobile phones, road bikes and the latest social fad were all explored and often revisited in his practice. As we write, his work is on view at Platform Seoul 2009, a major visual arts event in Korea. As part of the Asialink touring exhibition Under my Skin sited within Platform Seoul, Emil had been invited by curator Sunjung Kim to develop a new piece, Day & Night, Black & White, Flip Flop, Jekyll & Hyde, a three-minute video loop. It features an isolated female figure continuously riding her bike in a loop formation on an abandoned concrete plaza. She never leaves the frame but somehow the appearance of the bike alters slightly, unsettling perception and shifting our understanding of the seemingly mundane and 'real'.

Another great passion for Emil was design and he developed a close circle of friends in Seoul built around this. In his final week we spoke in detail of his latest attempts to build sample balsa wood bento boxes, local design, Monocle magazine, i-phones, mobile phone graphics and subtle Korean etiquette, road bikes, the Seoul subway system (Emil was a self-professed subway spotter) and his latest 1-money ticket project for subway commuters. He spoke of his plans to come to Melbourne - the first time since 2002 - for a public art project, and a desire to travel to Japan but mostly we spoke about how lucky he felt to he exhibiting in Platform Seoul 2009. As a Malaysia/Australian artist with his heart and future in Seoul this was a major achievement for him

It was not only his enthusiasm and infectious energy that so many admired but his incredible network that held great affection for him and wanted to know him a little more. Emil was private but enjoyed people and all their oddities. Sarah Bond was in Korea putting up the new work with Emil for Platform Seoul in the week before he died, and says, was constantly asked "Where is Emil", and "Is Emil dropping by today? – I have never actually met him but feel like I know him". Perhaps this was the most common.' He had a great warmth that attracted so many and made each feel like they had a special place.

Emil took part in over seventy exhibitions and projects in Australia, Asia and Europe, was the recipient of various grants and his work has been included in Flash Art, Art in America, Theme, Wired Online and Art Asia Pacific, among many other publications.

We will all miss him and his work, and mourn the passing of his too short life.

Sydney's Gallery 4A, Asia-Australia Arts Centre will present an exhibition in tribute to Emil Goh this December.