The Beginning
Today is Sunday - September 27th, 2026. Just a few hours ago I was brainstorming how to structure my upcoming photo book series of documenting and interviewing artists. Yet, I somehow ended up here writing this. I felt a strong urge to mark a beginning of my journey and its origin before designing the first photo book itself. Writing this would help clear the path for everything else. So, I am here to say that my journey as a documentarist in the art world now begins, starting with my own origin story.
First, I must confess. I don’t actually have an educational background in filmmaking or photography. In fact, I hold a finance degree. I came to New York in 2017 to pursue a career in photography. I first noticed my interest in photography when I graduated high school from South Korea. I arrived on a date of March 1st. I knew no one here, but I somehow managed this far. I have been extremely lucky. I am thankful for that. However, passion for a certain craft goes sour quickly when it becomes a job. I have spent couple years rethinking my career choices while dealing with quite a loss of vocation too.
I remember my mother once suggesting I document Korean artists and share them on YouTube so people can know about them. Given that I was starting out in New York, that seemed overwhelming. Shortly after, though, I met Jonathon - an artist from North Carolina who became a roommate at my third apartment in Brooklyn. Together we gotten through COVID period. Once the lockdown gradually shifted off, my mother’s suggestion turned into his first feature - a beginning of my artist documentary journey.
It has been three years after the first feature. yet, up until last December, I hadn’t fully committed; I was still unsure. I experienced some frustrating episodes along the way, and I needed to figure out why I was doing this and wanting to continue on. Despite my ongoing hesitation, I kept investing in trademarks, domains, and gear for this brand ‘Everyarist’, driven by a gut feeling I could not quite put into words.
It turns out to be surprisingly simple: documenting artists and making films about them is fun and enlightening in many ways. I get to hear their story and learn so much from them. I get to see different facets of our world. Also, seeing the artworks and hearing stories from the artist themselves really help me understand their work too.
Now, I am in a stage of designing my first photo book and a photo zine. And, writing this article marks my true beginning of my documentary journey. My name is Sung, I am a documentary filmmaker in an art industry, making films about artists and their stories. My mission is to create a space dedicated to artists - a place for them to be shown and be seen not by just artworks, but as in their full humanities.