Nam Kyung Min < Invitation to N - Into Inner Landscapes>

Nam Kyung-min is an artist known for her imaginative portrayals of the private studios of master artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Paul Cézanne. Her art often reimagines these spaces as introspective environments filled with furniture, books, and symbolic objects that reflect the lives and creative struggles of these figures. Nam invites viewers to peer into these secluded realms through slightly open doors and parted curtains, sparking curiosity about the intense, private spaces where these renowned artists once worked. Nam's renderings sometimes draw upon real-life visits to the artists' spaces, but more often they are imaginative reconstructions. She fills these spaces with metaphoric objects that encapsulate universal themes: a skull and a candle symbolizing life's brevity, a glass bottle representing the transparent purity of an artist’s inner self, and wings that reflect unfulfilled aspirations. These objects are placed in the space without any specific order, giving an air of effortless symbolism.

Whei Za Kim < Contemplation >

Whei Za Kim is an artist who graduated from Seoul National University's College of Fine Arts and later earned a master's degree in printmaking from Sungshin Women's University. Following her studies, she established a unique artistic vision while working as a visiting artist in New York. During her time in the coastal forests of Long Island, she experienced profound healing through her connection with nature. Observing trees that grow from the earth and stretch towards the sky, she became deeply attuned to the vitality and energy of the universe. Kim acknowledges the limitations of science in understanding the essence of Qi—the fundamental energy of the universe—and believes that only through the human subconscious and emotions can one truly grasp and connect with this essence. For her, creating art is an ongoing dialogue with the cosmic mysteries, drawing endless inspiration from trees.

Kim Si Jong < LIFE IN EQUILIBRIUM >

Kim Si-Jong reinterprets 17th century Dutch still lifes through modern collages. These historically lavish works resemble today’s social media culture of flaunting wealth and status. Despite the evolution of cultural practices, the essence of social survival remains unchanged. Reflecting on the global pandemic, Kim’s pieces incorporate withered flowers, skulls, and hourglasses to convey the message, “Remember death.” Through advanced photography and digital editing, he merges reality and imagination, transforming the sizes and colors of flowers and animals to create a world where diverse life forms coexist.

Hong Jee hui < LIFE IN EQUILIBRIUM >

Hong Jee-Hui uses upcycled materials like discarded glass and Styrofoam to create objects inspired by nature’s four seasons. By incorporating artificial substances symbolizing human progress and desire, she suggests ways to achieve harmony between humans and nature. Her process mirrors the cyclical patterns of nature, restoring resources and generating new value. In this exhibition, she draws on her daily walks to present new perspectives on sustainable living. Her work encourages viewers to reflect on respect for nature and coexistence, providing a contemplative space in today’s materialistic society.

Lee Ji Won < LIFE IN EQUILIBRIUM >

Lee Ji-Won’s paintings capture the process of inner dialogue through connections with healing elements in nature. Her depictions of nature are lush and vibrant, with characters sharing emotions quietly yet profoundly. Through cherished moments with loved ones and playful times with her dog, she expresses the value of happiness and how these moments bring healing and energy, rendered in meticulous brushstrokes. Lee’s work offers viewers a meditative and restorative experience, guiding them to find personal tranquility. Her art invites viewers to rest instinctively within nature’s beauty and experience inner peace.

Yoon Jeong Sun < Walking Through Memories>

Jeong Sun Yoon captures the essence of remembered spaces. Her artworks depict realms that simultaneously exist and do not—constructed from her memories, isolated from the passage of time and the flux of people and environments. Like entries in a secret diary, Yoon records solitary moments within these spaces. Her artistic journey began in the early 2000s with predominantly monochrome works, influenced by the overcast skies of England and the bustling streets of China. During her time in Beijing, she introduced vibrant primary colors into her depictions of deserted urban landscapes, marking a significant evolution in her style. These colorful elements in empty settings symbolize enduring memories. One of her hallmark series, 'Embolium,' features night scenes like the luminous facade of the Myeongdong Cathedral Jesuit Hall against a backdrop of profound darkness. The reflected lights—purple, pink, and blue—capture the artist’s emotions, creating a striking contrast with the shadowy structures. These nocturnal moments, akin to an interlude in a play, offer a pause from daily life, allowing Yoon to deeply reflect on her artistic existence and the essence of her work. Upon returning to Seoul, Yoon painted Ikseondong and Samcheongdong, neighborhoods steeped in history and transformation. Particularly, Ikseondong carries the painful history of Japanese-imposed architectural changes during the occupation era. Today, these districts have evolved into bustling commercial zones, yet remnants of the past persist in fragments of walls and roofs.

MeME < U GOT THIS > < Pink Christmas >

MeME offers a hopeful worldview centered on the independent life and happiness of contemporary individuals by bridging cartoon elements from popular art with a diverse array of visual arts techniques, including mixed media, flat surfaces, and stereoscopic presentations. The materials used in all of the artist's works symbolize human subjectivity, transforming artificially created environments to overcome biological limitations and craft a necessary world for themselves. The character of Object Pigme embodies the frailty of the artist and modern individuals within the confines of contemporary society. Born as a pig lacking self-esteem, Object Pigme, always aware of its surroundings, sports elongated ears akin to a rabbit and a timid, small mouth. Heart goggles symbolize a beacon illuminating a paradise of happiness for Pigme, flying with fervent energy, dreaming of joy. Through Pigme's journey to rediscover lost self-esteem, the character returns to a state of pure innocence devoid of self-consciousness, constructing a surreal utopia for all modern adults in pursuit of their dreams.

Yoon Song Ah < BULE DRAGON >

Yoon Song Ah explores the vitality and energy that permeates through the contemporary era, reinterpreting images to convey this essence. Through the lens of trees, as central agents, she discovers various human figures living within them from unconventional perspectives, capturing transient moments through her unique viewpoint and rearranging them on canvas to create new imagery. Utilizing mineral pigments on traditional Korean paper, the artist skillfully employs East Asian color palettes. Bold imagery, combined with these color choices, comes alive on the textured surface of traditional paper, giving birth to even more captivating artworks.

Cho Jae Yeon < BULE DRAGON >

Cho Jae Yeon addresses the anxieties and contradictions faced by contemporary individuals, depicting them whimsically and using playful elements to navigate through fairy tale-like narratives. The dinosaur figures appearing in the artworks are somewhat indistinct within thick brushstrokes. The kitschiness perceived amid the arrangement of vivid colors can be seen as the artist's way of expressing the imperfections of modern life. The yellow smile atop these dinosaurs is Jaeyeon's cheerful greeting, simultaneously conveying a message of optimism—suggesting that everything will eventually fall into place.

이소영< BULE DRAGON >

Lee Soyoung has been reinterpreting the aesthetic beauty of traditional Korean folk paintings in a contemporary light. Her artworks depict various figures commonly found in Goguryeo murals, late Joseon folk paintings, including floral designs, animal figures, and diverse symbols used in royal contexts. She creates new works by collaborating modern design elements with traditional figures, resulting in a synergy that showcases a deeper essence of Koreanness. Bold Eastern colors reminiscent of Dancheong, traditional Korean decorative coloring, are boldly used in her works. Amidst the vibrant palette, she employs the dichotomy of monochrome, white, and black, adding weight to modernity within her art. Lee Soyoung constructs a fresh and evocative artistic realm through her interpretation of folk paintings from a modern perspective.

KIM MINHA < Pink Christmas >

Artist Kim Min-ha conveys a positive, warm, and pure inner essence to people, akin to an orchestra's performance, through the various visual languages present in their work. The artist is primarily focused on the excitement that emerges from new attempts, trials, and errors, exploring diverse expression techniques, compositions, and a paradigm-breaking interpretation, diverging from the realm of intense painting. The recurring motifs of rabbits and girls in the artist's works represent the artist's childhood self and encapsulate the pure essence retained as an adult. This purity fuels the artist's fairytale-like imagination. Kim Min-ha's artwork aims to depict a joyful narrative that resonates with the audience, evoking a sense of happiness akin to being immersed in a gentle drizzle.

KIM HANKI < Pink Christmas >

PARK SUNMI < Pink Christmas >

Park Sunmi's artworks prominently feature parrots symbolizing speakers. These avian depictions represent the artist's contemplation of entities entitled to hold diverse opinions. The birds portrayed in the artist's works reflect various perspectives: some birds, devoid of light in their eyes, plunge into the abyss of infinite contemplation, seemingly frozen in time, while others, with sparkling eyes, assert their presence and exhibit unwavering self-belief. Through birds characterized by distinct stories, names, and personalities, the artist visually expresses philosophical musings. Continuously delving into self-reflection as an objectified entity, Park Sunmi remains faithful to nuanced emotions, delving deeply into the lives of beings, including self. Graduating from Hongik University, the artist initially worked as KBS's inaugural radio writer. Furthering their studies in painting and printmaking, they pursued education at the New York School of Visual Arts and The Art Student League of New York. Since 1997, Park Sunmi has consistently showcased their works in both team and solo exhibitions.

LEE SARA < Pink Christmas >

Lee Sara's Wonderland series captures a delicate and inviting essence on the canvas, achieved through meticulous knife scratches that unveil a multi-layered history of meticulous work. The intricate patterns, reminiscent of a hidden picture quest, interlace joyous motifs reflecting hope, aspirations, and delight, forming a tapestry of happiness and optimism. Using endearing animated imagery like girls and teddy bears, the artist constructs a new wonderland within their works, encapsulating a concentric world within modern society. This Wonderland series stands as a testament to this artistic expression.

LEE SOJEONG < Pink Christmas >

The garden depicted in Lee Sojung's artworks serves as both a repository for concealed stories and a protective barrier, encapsulating a mysterious realm. Functioning as a blend of natural and human-made elements, the forest within the art portrays a dichotomy—simultaneously offering both an eerie and secure ambiance while infusing a raw, botanical energy into the stark space. The garden's diverse iconography is rich in mythical themes and symbols, projecting the artist's inner fantasy through fortress-like structures, plants, olives, laurels, and pigeons. Lee's artistic technique involves a striking juxtaposition of dark backgrounds, scratched with oil pastels to reveal vibrant colors. Moreover, the layering of colored paper creates depth and dimension, representing hope emerging from darkness. Graduating with a major in Korean painting from Dong-A University's Department of Art, Lee further pursued a master's degree at Pusan National University's Department of Art. Since then, they have actively participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Busan. In 2020, Lee notably contributed to the artwork

IKU HARADA < Inner Space >

For 15 years, Iku Harada has woven the fabric of a virtual world using 3D modeling software. She has etched the nature of her birthplace, where she came into the world and grew, onto the canvas of virtual space. The artist, who crafts fragments of memory into maps, has, in a role of God within this world, meticulously created their own realm, 'Inner Space'. It means her utopia, a virtual world rooted in reality.The concept of 'Inner Space' takes on the form of an island floating upon the sea, where the sea is colored in blue and the land is represented as a green plane symbolizing meadows. Atop this canvas, sculptures of nature, homes, landmark architectures, and more find their places. Furthermore, she has breathed life into the virtual realm by implementing light and shadow, infusing it with vitality. The artist, who once wandered through her computer-generated world of imagination, has transformed the landscapes within into two-dimensional paintings and three-dimensional sculptures, manifesting them into reality. Harada is engaged in a creative endeavor where computer-generated virtual space and the physical world overlap and intertwine. Her artworks are not only an attempt to materialize virtual reality spaces but also a reflection of spatial motifs from the real world into the virtual realm, ultimately enabling viewers to traverse between both worlds. Her artworks, where multiple dimensions of space overlap, resonate with us who spend a significant amount of time in virtual spaces, evoking empathy.

CHAE HYESUN < With You >

At first glance, Chae Hye Sun’s artwork featuring Loongky, a Bedlington Terrier with expressive face and cute gestures, seems just like a happy fairy tale world. However, when you see his dragging deflated balloons, hesitating to diving into the sea, or receiving a birthday food that was nothing special, it makes you feel ironic. Chae Hye Sun records her daily emotions and thoughts as if she were writing a diary through the eyes of her pet Loongky. By painting the world seen by a dog, she expresses her heart through the pet she loves the most, moreover, she looks into herself through Loongky, who is similar in personality to her. Loongky is her persona. The birch forest, which often appears in her artworks, stretches gracefully towards the ideal. This means the vast world that the timid and shy Loongky encounters every day. Loongky meets his friends and forms relationships by giving them balloons and cotton candy. Balloons, lollipops, and cotton candy in Chae Hye Sun's artworks represent hope and disappointment at the same time, and are elements that represent indispensable dualities like light and darkness. We can see excitement through Loongky holding a full balloon, but feel sympathy as he drags the deflated balloon back. Somehow, it's just like looking at us.

MOON KYUNG < With You >

Moon Kyung paints joyful imaginary sceneries on canvas with innocent animals in mysterious nature as the main characters. Since childhood, she has loved observing and drawing daily life. After graduating, she got a job at a large company related to her major, nevertheless, she did not stop drawing. In the meantime, she turned into a full-fledged artist when she won an art contest. Moon Kyung’s artworks are full of 'positive energy' created by harmony between animals and humans. Elements in Mother Nature, such as willow trees that well-adapt to the environment, wild flowers that spread their scent with the breeze, and sunlight that is visible through fresh leaves, are the source of inspiration that stimulates the her fairytale imagination.

PARK YOUNG HAK < Emptiness and Fullness >

Park Young Hak, who draws landscapes using materials such as charcoal, focuses on the essence of natural forms through emptying rather than accurately depicting the landscape. The Familiarity and unrealistic images of his artworks catch the viewer's gaze. Looking at his artworks with blank spaces, it is understandable that the overall title was , which is also the artist's will to focus on emptying and contain the elegant Korean customs like white porcelain. Unlike images, simple-looking artworks are never simple in their creating process. Park Young Hak makes a solid base by coating and drying the white stone on the paper more than 15 times. Through this process, the drawing paper is coated with an unchanging pure white color, the stone powder emits a soft light, and the paper becomes harder. On top of that, he expresses images with materials such as pencil and charcoal which are dry materials. These processes mean the artist's desire to return the artwork to nature through the use of natural materials. Park Young Hak begins his artwork by erasing artifacts and scenery that he feels are unnecessary. Rather than using multiple colors, he focuses on the contrast between black and white, using charcoal and cotton swabs on the rough surface of white stone powder to create the depth of light and shade of oriental paintings. The charcoal on the canvas appears as strong lines, and is drawn as mountain ridges, valleys, rocks, trees, and furrows. At this time, the lines flexibly cross the screen, expanding or concentrating the gaze of the viewer. The charcoal, carefully divided by his touch, forms planes and is expressed as the sea, islands, and rivers. Delicate and small lines are drawn with a pencil and become trees and leaves blowing in the wind.

KIM SOON CHEOL < Emptiness and Fullness >

Kim Soon Cheol is creating her artworks with adding texture and diversity to oriental paintings that feel rather flat. She brought sewing to the canvas using ordinary materials such as thread and needle and built her own special world of art. She says that the virtue of oriental painting lies in emptiness. From this artistic context, her artworks, which places an object in the center and fills the paper with layers of stitching and coloring, feels very heterogeneous. She eliminate unnecessary elements while focuses entirely on the message she wants to express. If you feel the time of patience of the artist who exquisitely stitched up with traditional materials, you can imagine the work process outside the canvas, which will be the power that comes from the artist's unique aesthetic of emptiness. The major objects in her recent artworks are composed of flowers, jars, and chairs. These are not objects of description or representation, but symbolic signs that contain the artist's wishes. At first glance, the symbol in the shape of a flower was brought to the canvas by her after seeing the appearance of cabbages wasted in the cabbage field, showing that it can also be seen as flowers in full bloom depending on the viewing point of view. She expresses the desire to bloom through flower artwork series. The pot boasting a graceful appearance in the center of the artwork is a symbol as a container for good things, and it bears the artist's wish to empty the complexity and contain what she wants. In addition, a chair that is generally made with four legs is expressed with two legs in the artwork, which is a shape that represents the artist's appearance, and the artist's will to stand up firmly on two legs. The shapes containing these wishes are symbols containing the artist's hopes to be light, empty, and tidy, which explains why her artwork was titled “About Wish.”

Lee Sunjoo < My Golden House>

Lee Sunjoo collected items in daily use such as stationeries and stamps since childhood. As an adult, she has collected Bojagi containing Korean traditions and sentiments, and milk glasses used in ordinary American homes. With this interest, she has realized that collections are a medium through which she reflects on the time and space she has lived in. The collections filled with her affection naturally lead to her artwork, and instead of language, she reveals who she is. The literal meaning of an object is “an object that exists objectively,” but Lee Sunjoo embodies the meaning they contain through a restrained frame composition rather than telling about the appearance of an object. Her still life photography is a discourse on invisible beings, such as social and cultural sentiments and the artist's emotions. In ‘Black Memorabilia’ series, she placed objects in a lightless space and had a photoshoot still objects barely visible. It told about the beings that are invisible but existent. Afterwards, through the 'Stack' series, the desire contained in the act of stacking were expressed, and sincerity and love were expressed through the 'Bottali' series.

Kim Geon-Il < Perfect Green: Forest drawn by Heart>

Kim Geon-Il's landscape painting is not a real landscape, but a landscape in the artist's imagination.Rather than the object exisiting in reality, he embodies the subject who looks at the object, that is, the heart of the artist himself through his artwork. The 'memory', the key motive of his artwork, was visualized on the canvas when he met the object of 'forest' at last. If you walk through a desolate forest, you may come across many unexpected elements, such as creatures you have never seen before and lush bushes. As for memories, the more you dig down into them, the more imperfections that change according to your heart or desire revealed, rather than a simple story. Just as we enter the forest and meet the unexpected elements outside the forest, likewise, our memories have such aspects.

Shin Sujin < Tinted >

Shin Su Jin’s artworks, combined painting and print, add diversity to its expression and color. Small thing in the form of seeds overlap and aggregate on the canvas, embodying the natural cycle of birth, growth, and extinction of life. The formativeness of superimposing numerous images and capturing them on one scene look like delicate young leaves when seen in close-up, but sometimes become a flower or a cosmic wormhole in the long-shot. Shin Su Jin uses engraving and drypoint techniques to create and color the plates by hands, and then repeatedly stamps them on Hanji (traditional Korean handmade paper). Then, draw lines with a brush or add color to add delicacy. This process includes the trembling and spreading of lines, as well as the delicate senses and breathing of her hands.

Kim Sihyun < Past, Present, and Myself >

Artist Kim Sihyun actively explores and studies Korean aesthetics by taking animals or flowers in court art as motifs, the pinnacle of the splendor of traditional Korean culture, to unravel the spirituality of Korean art in modern formative language.

Yoo Choongmok < Past, Present, and Myself >

“Series of Zipper” initially presented wit melted on the media experimentation on glass. The “The Skin” series expresses the subtle conflicts between various races and the complex emotions felt during the time when he was away from Korea. After these series, the artist Yoo Choongmok, who has been working to expand the limits of visual language by incorporating formativeness into glass with “Series of Mutation”, is acclaimed for his “Formation” series that expresses his respect and condolences to the painter Kim Tschangyeul, who passed away last year.

Choi SeungYoon < Past, Present, and Myself >

The world is always ambivalent. It is a world of balance where polarities coexist, such as the universe and life, yin and yang, and the beginning and the end. His paintings contain those order of the world. The painting, which started from rift of the paradox, expands to fill the rift and belch vitality as if it will be forever. His lines and spaces move, collide, harmonize, and come to life on the canvas. He thinks that a painting is a living creature or a universe. In order to create a life, he thought the rules of the world had to be embody in a painting, and the rule of the world he thought of were ‘Rule of Opposite’. He has been working on themes of the Beginning of the Stop, Paradox of Movement, Cross-section of the Moment, Paradox of Time and Space, and Paradox of Equality and Difference.

< The Island of Nemonane >

Nemonane, the prime motif of his artworks as well as his alternate character, is not only the artist today but also a character derived by drawing on his childhood memories and experiences and his imagination.

< Light and Joy >

Artist Song Ji Young who has been interested in color perception brings artificial light into the canvas and harmonizes it with the brush touch to create a new formative language.

< Light and Joy >

He was being enamored with Claude Monet and started his art career under the influence of Monet. The ever-changing impression of light is depicted in beautiful colors and embraces the vitality of nature.

Lee Kyong is a distinctive artist who perceives external stimulation or emotions in daily life as colors. For Artist Lee Kyong, who says she views color with her heart, not with her eyes, color is the motif and theme of the creation. She eliminates the tangible shapes from the canvas and reconstructs the colors by ordering them.