Link to Obituary written by Melissa Chiu and Benjamin Genocchio

This obituary by Melissa Chiu and Benjamin Genocchio appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald on September 30 2009

http://www.smh.com.au/national/obituaries/chronicler-of-the-asianaustralian-experience-20090929-gazd.html?skin=text-only

Remembering Emil

As a well known and liked artist, Emil had many friends across Australia and throughout Asia, his humour, vitality, inquisitiveness and energy have touched many people. Emil was based in Sydney for many years and had been instrumental in the development of 4A and Gallery 4A. In fact he was included in the very first exhibition at Gallery 4A at our first Sussex Street address in 1997, and later he joined the Board where his infectious optimism provided valuable insight and support to the organisation. I remember fondly his knack at meeting people and maintaining friendships across continents and timezones. He was always able to find good food in the small out of the way places in Chinatown, his enthusiasm helped us see how extraordinary the ordinary and mundane things in our city are. He was funny and kind and generous. Though he had been living in Korea for the last few years, his work in Australia, as an artist, writer and curator, played an integral part in the development of contemporary art in the Sydney scene.

This blog is in memory of Emil Goh. The news of his passing reminds me of how random life is, and also how he affected the development of 4A, but also the cultural life of Sydney. We have developed this site in his honour, with the aim of collecting stories from his many friends and families. We are working towards developing a small tribute show in the future

A Song for Emil Goh

A Song for Emil Goh
The Man Who Was Everyday 


Evil smog occupied the sky of the Metropolis;
Gold fingers established a brave new Utopia.
Art admired digital decay;
Design became a slave to Utopian order.
Then, from the Galaxy, you came to the Earth
With the mission impossible
To save everything humble and every event miscellaneous
From the destiny to be perished on Earth.
Your secret code name was ‘Everyday.’
Everyday, you rushed toward a million streets under the sky
And toward endless arcades underground,
As the Man of La Mancha dashed toward invisible challenges.
‘Video camera’ was your gun;
‘Notebook’ was your armor.
You detected and measured: love and joy; blood, sweat and tears,
Hidden in those poor creatures.
When I was told you fell into a big sleep,
My heart trembled excited, even though lamenting a separation,
Because I knew you’ve finished your mission on Earth at last!
And, returned to the Galaxy to save another star! 
 


Now, you will continue to care for every culture humble and unprivileged
Existing on any star in the Galaxy,
Listening to the dialogues between everything visible or invisible;
Documenting ignoble birth and death, marriage and divorce, among those things.
When meeting with you some day in the Galaxy – our ultimate destination,
I will confess I envied you and your mission for a long time.
Then, accepting my apology I couldn’t have much time to talk with you,
You will invite me to an endless discussion regarding ‘the beautiful ado about nothing’. 
 



September 10, 2009 ( Seoul )
Written by Moominn S. P. Park

Expecting the time we will meet with Emil Goh in the Galaxy,
( Remembering Emil
Wednesday 30th September 2009 at 7.00 p.m.
19 Jalan Berangan, 50200 Kuala Lumpur ROGUEART )

Remembering Emil !

Dear Relatives / Friends,

My first born son, Emil GOH Kwan Ming ( 43 ) passed away early in the morning on Monday 7th September 2009 in his sleep. He died of a heart attack.

He stayed and worked in the art circle in Seoul for 5 years. He contributed much, writing articles which were published in prestigious magazines in South Korea, Hong Kong and other places and interviewed on TV.

He taught 2 years “at Hongik University, been guest critic at the Interior Design dept at Konkuk University and currently is a guest professor at the Industrial Design dept at Kyungwon University. Between art projects he is the Seoul editor for Theme (NY) & Inside (Melbourne) magazines and is also doing projects with Second Hotel & mmmg “ and project Umbrella Taxi.

He had many good friends like Megan, Fritz and wife Niki, Jowan, Hanghoo and many others without whose help my wife and I would be completely at a loss as what to be done in Seoul. External thanks to all of them.

During the Wake, more than 150 people came to pay him respect … young and old, professors and lecturers, even those who have met him only a few months ago. Ms. Wendy Gan (a Professor in the English Department of Hong Kong University) flew in from Hong Kong. The Australian High Commission ( Seoul ) sent a wreath, Emil being an Australian citizen.

None could hold back their tears and some cried openly.

Despite being a working day, more than 150 people attended the mass service at 11.00 a.m. at St Francis of Assisi Catholic chapel.

A financial adviser, Mr. Moominn S. P. Park, husband of a Professor, Sunghee Ahn, wrote a song “ The Man Who Was Everyday “ which describes my son’s life so well. See attachment. Mr. Moominn read out the poem at the chapel.

A Memorial “ Remembering Emil “ will be held at 7.00 p.m. on Wednesday 30th September 2009 at 19 Jalan Berangan, 52000 Kuala Lumpur organized by ROGUEART. There is a car park nearby. For enquires : Beverly Yong 016 266-7413. Emil’s work will be on view during the day. ( See attachment.)

A similar one will also be held in Sydney.

Some of Emil’s photographs can be viewed in <> . He was “ superlocal “

Here are some extracts of tributes received …

“ He studied Photography & Sculpture at Sydney College of the Arts and received a Masters in Art from Goldsmiths College, London.
Goh exhibited extensively throughout Australia and internationally. In 2005 he showed at the Jakarta International Video Festival and in Seoul: Until Now Charlottenborg Udstilling-sbygning, Copenhagen. His work was included in Mix-Ed at Sherman Galleries, 2004, in Location Location, at the Australia Centre for Photography, Sydney, 2003 and in 2004 he participated in the Busan Biennale at the Busan Metropolitan Art Museum. Goh had residencies at London's Hayward Gallery, Hong Kong University, the Chinese Arts Centre in Manchester, and SSamzie Space, Seoul. “ by Oz Art, Australia.

“I cannot express the sense of loss I now feel, but I will never again let myself pitykeep me from sharing my experiences, thoughts and ideas.
I have learned about it in an unexpected way from a very unique and talented person. Emil Goh, I have been privileged to know, is one of those people who had an unlimited supply of himself. Always, he enthusiastically shared of himself, his photography, his design projects, his artwork, his opinions and above all his friendship. His energy and good nature was both charming and intoxicating to those graced with his presence.
Thank you for showing up in my life, Emil, it has been a season of a lifetime. You have helped me on my quest to find who I am and taught me the importance of sharing one’s self. I will never forget your lesson.” from Douglas Wills.

“ He was collecting pictures of the city. According to his latest report he had over 49.000 in his hard-drive. Could spend days riding his GPS-enhanced bike while taking shots of buildings, people, or just different types of kimchi. I swear I saw him photographing every single dish we ordered at restaurants. Collected all sorts of mobile phones just for the pleasure of understanding how they work. He even got an iPhone when it was not possible to use it in Korea just to play around with the UI. “ from Arduino.

susie johnston Says:
September 14th, 2009 at 10:24 am
“ Thank you for your memories.
I first met Emil at college in Sydney where we spent much time enjoying gastronomic delights which he was forever uncovering. He always had a positive take on things. Could make you feel everything had a place in the world no matter how mundane. He is sorely missed. Rest in peace Emil.
With love, Susie “

“ He was easily one of the most selfless AND talented people I’ve been fortunate to meet and I feel blessed to have called him a friend. It is the making friends bit I want to celebrate here because everyone who knew Emil became a friend. Years ago I remember laughing that you couldn’t walk across Newcastle's Hunter Street Mall with Emil in under an hour – so many people would stop to chat with him. That was indeed years ago, before '94 when we still lived in Newcastle - but I bet people said the same thing about Emil in Seoul, London, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Sydney ... “L'eggs Up And Laughing.

"I liked a lot Emil's work and I loved him as a human being. I miss him a lot….. As many of his friends here in Seoul, I feel I didn't spend enough time with him. I didn't do enough.” From Marco Bruno.

My son, Emil led a full life, touched many and loved by everyone he touched and now Rest in Peace.

We thank all of you for all the prayers and God Bless you.

Love,
Xavier Goh Khen Wah and Sylvia Lee
29th September 2009

Michael Schiavello
can also be found at
michael@schizophonia.com
rover05video@yahoo.com.au

Biography of Emil Goh

Emil Goh was born in Johor Bahru in 1966 and spent his childhood growing up in various cities around Malaysia, including three years studying in Singapore. He moved to Australia in 1985 where he studied Photography & Sculpture at Sydney College of the Arts. Later he obtained his Masters from Goldsmiths College, London. Goh has been artist-in-residence at agnes b. London; the Hayward Gallery, London; Hong Kong University and SSamziepsace, Seoul. He has exhibited widely in Australia and internationally including: Busan Biennale, Busan, 2004; Slow Rushes, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius, 2004; Mix-Ed, Sherman Galleries, 2004; Location Location, Australian Centre for Photography, Sydney, 2003, Fruits, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, 2003; Housewarming, Parasite Artspace, Hong Kong, 2003; REMAP, Laforet Museum, Kokura, Japan, 2002; Buddha: Past, Present, Future , Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 2002; Emil Goh 1996-2002 , Contemporary Art Centre of South Australia, Adelaide, 2002; New Releases , Gallery 4A, Sydney, 2001; Sydney!Vienna! Akadamie fur Bildenden Kunst, Vienna, 2000) and Arus/Flow National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, 2000.