CHULAN KWAK | 곽철안
Chulan Kwak calls himself “a form-giver” because he materializes ungraspable ideas to physical forms of sculpture by exploring various materials such as wood, metal or stainless steel. The artist attempts to find out his own ‘zero ground’ to build his activities from the very fundamental stage, so he continues to experiment in creating new material and techniques.
In Kwak’s Cursive Structure series, the artist is inspired from the movement of Caoshu(known as Chinese cursive brush-writing) which is the most abbreviated typeface in the calligraphy. He re-structures the two dimensional strokes of Caoshu, which seemed to run the blank space rhythmically, into the three dimensional structure. Through the form of free curves, he creates this unique practice of cursive structure that functions as well as creating a contrast between the object and margin of space that changes depending on various points of perspectives. His goal is to break down the pretense of vigilance and clear away doubts. That is why he does not close the curve in a circle past 360 degrees. Kwak seeks to create a spatialillusion that was structurally sturdy but deviated from the gravitational effects we feel as if Caoshu is characterized by a fresh and structual form.
Also Kwak aims to insert furniture with dynamic emotion, breaking from the static norms. For instance, <RNI Table> is modeled after images of running horses that motivated him to create furniture which takes-off from a point in space and time.
Chulan Kwak has BFA and Master’s Course in Woodworking and Furniture Design at Hong-ik University and a Master Degree in IM Masters at Design Academy Eindhoven. Currently, he is Professor of Living Arts, Department of Art, College of Culture and Arts, Sangmyung University. His work is part of National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art 'Cursive Structure chair_cube merged', Changdeok Palace.
INQUIREbiography
Professor at Living art & design department at Sangmyung University
Education
2010 Master Degree in IM Masters at Design Academy Eindhoven(NL)
2008 Master’s Course in Woodworking and Furniture Design at Hong-ik University
2006 B.F.A in Woodworking and Furniture Design at Hong-ik University
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITON
2021 Life Inspiration & Art, LIA Collection, Seoul, Korea
2020 Shy & Bold, ADM Gallery, Seoul, Korea
2020 Moire Chairs, Gallery Mark, Seoul, Korea
2019 Cursive Stucture, Asian Network Beyond Design, Teipei, Taiwan
2018 Cursive Structure Chairs, Asian Network Beyond Design, Seoul, Korea
2018 Cursive Structure, Asian Network Beyond Design, Gaosiung, Taiwan
2017 Smart x Human, Craft Trend Fair Main Pavilion, Seoul
2017 Moire Vases, Feria Habitat Valencia, Valencia, Spain
2017 Tagent, G.Gallery, Seoul, Korea
2017 Life Art Illustrations, Sapporo Citizen Gallery, Sapporo, Japan
2016 Kiwa Benches and Stools, Artside Gallery, Seoul, Korea
2016 Pond tables, Plusdesign Gallery, Milan, Italy
2016 7 colors of Moire trays, Ventura Lambrate, Milan, Italy
2015 Moired Benches and Stools, Mad Museum of Art, Singapore
2015 Moired, Sangmyung University Museum Exhibition Room, Seoul, Korea
2014 YOUniverse, Paris Design Week, Paris, France
2013 Well assorted(구색), Lee and Park Gallery, Paju, Korea
2013 Kiwascape, Stockholm Furniture Fair, Stockholm, Sweden
2012 The Fragments of Dragon, COEX, Seoul, Korea
2012 The Wooden Table, DMY Berlin, Berlin, Germany
2011 Iceberg, The Next Door Gallery, Seoul, Korea
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2020 Craft Trend Fair "Plum Blossom Shop", Seoul, Korea
2019 National Hangeul Museum Hangul Project, Seoul, Korea
2018 Korean Design Association Autumn International Invitation Exhibition, Seoul, Korea
2018 Korea Creative Content Association Spain International Planning Invitation, Girona, Spain
2018 Korea Contents Association Jeju International Planning Invitation, Jeju, Korea
2018 Korea Creative Content Association International Planning Invitation, Mokpo, Korea
2018 Korean Society of Basic Art & Design Egypt International Exhibition, Cairo, Egypt
2018 Korea Society of Basic Art & Design Canada International Exhibition, Ottawa, Canada
2018 Korea Society of Basic Art & Design Russia International Exhibition, Novosibirsk, Russia
2018 Korea Foundation Society Autumn International Planning Invitation, Seoul, Korea
2018 Korea Society of Product Culture and Design International Design Invitation, Seoul, Korea
2018 Korea Society of Product Culture and Design International Design Invitation, Vladivostok, Russia
2018 Asia Network Beyind Design Special Exhibition, Münchan, Germany
2018 Asia Network Beyind Design 2018, Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan
2018 'Chapter 1 Edit' Seoul Opening Exhibition, Seoul, Korea
2017 Asia Network Beyind Design 2017, Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan
2017 Korea Foundation for Basic Formation Seoul International Planning Invitation, Seoul, Korea
2017 Korea Society of Basic Art and Design Mexico City International Invitation, Maximo City, Maximo
2016 Korean Basic Art Society Kuala Lumpur International Invitation Exhibition, Galeri Seni, Malaysia
2016 3rd Inkas International Exchange Exhibition, Seoul, Korea
2016 35th Honglim Rotation, Seoul, Korea
2016 Korea Mold Design Association International Mold Design Exhibition, Incheon, Korea
2016 ANBD Special Collaboration Posters, Sapporo, Japan
2016 Asia Network Beyind Design 2016, Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan
2016 International Design Exhibition of the Korean Society of Commodity, Culture and Design, Baijing, China
2016 Korea Furniture Association International Exchange Exhibition, Ilsan, Korea
2016 Barcelona International Exhibition of the Korean Foundation for Basic Art and Design, Barcelona. Spain
2015 34th Honglim Rotation, Daejun, Korea
2015 Co-existence, Tokyo, Japan
2015 The Wave of Harmony, Tokyo, Japan
2015 Korea Creative Content Society International Digital Design Exhibition, Seoul, Korea
2015 International Exhibition on the Estimation of the Korean Foundation for Basic Formation, Seoul, Korea
2015 Korea Society of Geometry Design International Geometry Design Exhibition, Sichuan, China
2015 Korean Design Association Autumn International Invitation Exhibition, Jeonnam, Korea
2015 Asia Network Beyind Design 2015, Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan
2015 Korea Furniture Association International Invitation, Ilsan, Korea
2015 Asian Basic Molding Association Narita Competition, Narita. Japan
2015 Seattle International Exhibition of the Korea Foundation for Basic Formation, Seattle, USA
2015 Korea Craft Culture Promotion Agency's 'Infinite Possibilities of Materials – Hap', Seoul, Korea
2015 Sangmyung University & Habuk University of Science and Technology International Exchange Exhibition, Seoul, Korea
2015 Korean Society of Basic Formation Spring International Invitation, Pusan, Korea
2015 International Exhibition of Satboro, Korea Foundation for Basic Formation, Sapporo, Japan
2015 Maison de Couronne, Hannam Blue Square, Seoul, Korea
2015 Gwanghwamun Art Festival, Sejong Gallery, Seoul, Korea
2014 Asia Network Beyind Design 2014, Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan
2014 Korea Furniture Association International Exchange Exhibition, Ilsan, Korea
2014 YKA, Seoul, Korea
2014 K-Artist, Seoul, Korea
2014 33rd Honglim Rotation, Seoul, Korea
2014 Korea Tomorrow 2014, Seoul, Korea
2012 Life. A User’s Manual, Culture Station Seoul 284, Seoul, Korea
2012 KSBDA Monash University International Exhibition, Melbourne, Australia
2012 GalleryGalaxy Opening Show, Gallery Galaxy, Beijing, China
2012 East AsiaArt Festival, Gallery Sky-yeon, Seoul, Korea
2012 Asia NetworkBeyond Design, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China
2012 KSBDA International Exhibition, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
2012 Seoul Livingdesign Fair 2012, COEX, Seoul, Korea
2010 SuperOrganism in Dutch Design Week, Nova Gallery, Eindhoven, Netherlands
2010 Inside Design Amsterdam, Elle Wonen, Amsterdam, Netherlands
08-10 Conceptual Design Exhibition, De Witte Dame, Eindhoven. Netherlands
99-08 FurnitureDesign Exhibition, MoMA, Hongik University, Seoul, Korea
2008 Seoul Livingdesign Fair 2008 (L’UNICO Launching Show), COEX, Seoul, Korea
2007 1st SeoulDesign Week, COEX, Seoul, Korea
2007 26th HonglimGroup Exhibition, Hanwoori, Seoul, Korea
2006 Exhibitionof Hong-ik University’s 60th Anniversary, MoMA, Hongik University, Seoul, Korea
2006 1stShinsegae Purple Art Cake Room, Shnsegae Gallery, Seoul, Korea
2006 25th Honglim Group Exhibition, Dukwon Gallery, Seoul, Korea
2006 Seoul Housing Deco 2006, COEX, Seoul, Korea
2006 Seoul Living Design Fair 2006, COEX, Seoul, Korea
2006 6th Korea Furniture Society Exhibition, KINTEX, Ilsan, Korea
2006 Salon du Meuble de Paris 2006, Paris Parc des Expositions, Paris, France
2005 Decosit 2005, Bruxelles Expo, Bruxelles, Belgium
2005 KOFURN2005, KINTEX, Ilsan, Korea
2005 Seoul Housing Deco 2006, COEX, Seoul, Korea
2004 3th Seoul International Media Art Biennale, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul, Korea
etc.
COLLABORATIONS
2020 Gentle Monster
2020 DUOMO.co
2011~2015 Designer’s Lab Furniture
2011~2014 Seesay Furniture
2011~2013 Wellz Original Furniture
2009 Design Assiatant / OOOMS Studio
AWARDS
2020 Korea Society of Basic Formation Long Beach Best Picture Award
2015 Brilliant 30 Selected Artist / Hyundai Motor
2014 Korea Tomorrow Artist / Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
2007 Honglim Prize / Honglim Group
2006 President of Hongik University Award / President of Hongik University
2005 Editors Awards / Seoul Living Design Fair 2005
2005 Finalist / International Furniture Design Competition Asahikawa 2005 / Japan
2005 Special Prize / Korea International Furniture and Interior Fair 2005
2005 Finalist / GaGu Guide Furniture Design Competition
2005 Bronze Leaf/ Steel Furniture Design Competition
COLLECTIONS
2019 National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art 'Cursive Structure chair_cube merged'
2019 Changdeok Palace, Palace of Cultural Heritage Headquarters
INSTALLATION
2020 Suwon Station Purgio Xi Exterior Artifacts
2020 Ansan Linebu Square e-Pyeonhansesang External sculptures
2020 Grand Chosun Busan Interior Artifacts
2019 Cafede Gwanghwamun Interior Artifacts
selected works
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