Paradoxical Space : The New World

ARARIO GALLERY Seoul is delighted to present the solo exhibition of APT artist Kang Wook Lee, "Paradoxical Space : The New World" . Te artist  constructed independent art sphere on ‘Virtual Space’ Presenting the new ‘Gesture’ series, returning home after 7 years Philosophical, aesthetical exploration of ‘invisible virtual space’  Suggest the capability of new abstract painting succeeding Korean ‘monochrome painting’ Sensuous composition of repetitive gestures and geometrical forms

Kang Wook Lee had rose to stardom in a rare circumstance as a young abstract painter and he has been constructing an independent art sphere through ‘virtual space’ where contrary spatial concepts of ‘microscopic world’ and ‘macroscopic world’ exist in a single pictorial frame. Lee had resolutely left to study in the United Kingdom in the midst of his successful career and thus after 7 years, he has returned with a solo exhibition to signal the initiation of his domestic activity. Lee will present various new series of works on aesthetical exploration of the form along with intensified subject matter.     

This exhibition is divided into the basement, 1st and 2nd floor of ARARIO GALLERY Seoul and some of the works are exhibited for the very first time, including the two 7.5m large-scale ‘Geometric Form’ series that reveal his deepened study of the ‘space’ and the ‘Gesture’ series, which poses a question on ‘what a painting is’.

In his ‘Geometric Form’ paintings, Lee simultaneously depicts the microscopic world in terms of unit of cells or particles along with the macroscopic world, represented as the immeasurable universe. From his early working stages, Lee paid attention to the coexistence of directly opposed concept of ‘space’ and through 7 years of exploration, he has taken the concept of ‘paradoxical space’ in a new formative method. 

As Lee has been absorbed in the ancient philosophical Hindu text of ‘Upanishads’, he discovered the possibility of ultimate connection and paradoxical mirroring within the diverse conflicting elements of the universe, including universality and individuality, microscopic and macroscopic space, and etc. Furthermore, this extends from mankind made up of small cells to the method of interaction between the self, as part of the world and the whole world or even towards the truth of life. Hence the painting of Kang Wook Lee may be open to be read as humanitarian or philosophical message in search of the truth, rather than remaining in the visual realization of virtual space through the symbolization of geometrical and organic form.

Moreover, through the new ‘Gesture’ series, Kang Wook Lee is unveiling the concrete essence of painting, which he had constantly contemplated for over ten years working on flat paintings. This series is shown for the first time through this exhibition. The traces of repetitive gestures left on canvas become fixated as visual result and the varied colors based on white exist as each individual tone than a single color, leading the 2nd floor gallery space into a sensual world.

According to Professor Yeon Shim Jeong of Hong Ik University, “The painting of Kang Wook Lee is in succession to the monochrome paintings of the 1970’s and 1980’s in a sense of emphasizing the gesture of an artist’s body, however, it could be understood as ‘new abstract painting’ as he concentrates on tone and layer rather than color or materiality”. She has also commented that “Lee’s abstract painting is embedded with intertwined narrative structure apart from the existent art historical context, where numerous abstract painters removed story for the purpose of ‘exclusion of the theme”.  

Director Henna Joo of ARARIO GALLERY concentrated on how “Lee’s new series continue to carry the thematic exploration of space from his earlier works and appear to have great formal transformation as well”. She also added, “The audience would be able to witness new possibility of abstract painting in his new works, composed of traces accentuated with the artist’s gestures”.

Kang Wook Lee(b.1976) received BFA and MFA degree in Painting from Hong Ik University. Beginning from winning grand prize in 2001 ‘Republic of Korea Painting Competition’, Dong Ah Art Award from 2002 ‘Dong Ah Art Competition’, grand prize from ‘Chung-Ang Fine Art Prize’ and an award from 2003 ‘SongEun Art Award’, Lee had swept great number of respectable domestic art competitions. However in 2009, he abruptly left to the United Kingdom for the MFA program at Chelsea College and also received Ph.D. at East London University in 2015. Today he is actively working, dividing his time between London and Korea.