
KANGWOOK LEE | 이강욱
He has bachelor degree majoring in Fine Art and Art studies at College of Art, Hong Ik University in Korea. He also received Master degree in Modern Fine Art at the same university. He moved to London 5 years ago and studied MA Fine Art at Chelsea College of Art and Design. Currently, he is studying PhD at the University of East London and working as an artist simultaneously.
His first exhibition titled “Invisible Space” won a prize at the exhibition supporting contest of KEPCO Plaza Gallery and it was his first step to start his career as an artist. He attracted public attention by being awarded the grand prize at the 24th Joong Ang Fine Art Prize in 2002 and “Dong-A Fine Art Prize” at the Dong-A Fine Art Contest. Especially, he became the youngest artist who has been awarded “Grand Prize” at the biggest Fine Art contest in Korea.
His series of art work “Invisible Space” is a study on microscopic world, for example, a very small world filled with cell and particle which is an imaginary space that can be a diminutive scale or grand scale depending on a point of view. Ultimately, the main theme of his work is a study on a new space which alters depending on a change in imaginary space and point of view. Recently, he researched on philosophy called Upanishad, a collection of philosophical texts which form the theoretical basis for Ancient Indian philosophy and religion. He establishes a link between Upanishad and motive for his art work. His recent works seem to develop towards abstract paintings which emphasis on a geometrical shape. His work has always been expressed through drawing and painting which projects the artist’s own gesture and it receives critics’ review as ‘paintings expressed with sensory vision’.
His works are already possessed by many museums in Korea (Ho-Am Art Museum, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul Museum of Art), governmental institution (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and public institution (Samsung Medical Centre, Hyundai Motor Company, LS Industrial System Company, LG Fashion Company, Kyowon Group, KASCO etc) as well as private collectors.
INQUIREbiography
EDUCATION
2013 Attending a professional doctorate in Fine Art at University of East London, UK
2011 M.A. Fine Art, Chelsea College of Art and Design, UK
2004 The 3rd Resident Artist, Changdong National Art Studio, National Museum of contemporary Art, Republic of Korea
2003 M.F.A Graduate School of Painting Dept., Hong-Ik Univ. Seoul, Republic of Korea
2001 B.F.A Painting Dept., College of Fine Arts, Hong-Ik Univ. Seoul, Republic of Korea
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019 Salihara Art Center, Jakarta, Indonesia
2019 Gallery Madison Park, New York, USA
2018 The Cluster Gallery, New York, USA
2018 Gallery Laheen, Seoul, Republic of Korea
2017 ARARIO Gallery, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
2017 SPACE CAN, Seoul, Republic of Korea
2017 Gallery Huue, Singapore
2016 ARARIO Gallery, Seoul, Republic of Korea
2016 63 Sky Art, Seoul, Republic of Korea
2014 Tokyo Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2013 Art On Gallery, Singapore
2012 Asia House, London, UK
2012 Hada Contemporary, London, UK
2011 Gallery Rho, Seoul, Republic of Korea
2010 Gallery Cha-I, Seoul, Republic of Korea
2009 Gallery Colapasta, Seoul, Republic of Korea
2007 Gallery Rho, Seoul, Republic of Korea
2007 Hino Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2006 Spring Gallery, Shanghai, China
2005 Galerie de Temps, Tokyo, Japan
2005 Cheltenham Art Center, Philadelphia, U.S.A 2005 Gallery Will(Gana Art center), Seoul, Republic of Korea 2004 Gallery Rho, Seoul, Republic of Korea
2005 Gallery Ju-ichi gatsu, Tokyo, Japan
2002 Total Art Museum, Jangheung, Korea 2002 Hanjeon Plaza Gallery, Seoul, Republic of Korea
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019 Geometry, Beyond Simplicity, Museum SAN, Wonju, Republic of Korea
2018 Opening Exhibition of Anseong Art Hall, Anseong Art Hall, Anseong, Republic of Korea
2017 Korean, Chinese & Japanese Art Exhibition, Tsukuba Museum of Art, Ibaraki, Japan
2017 Art Basel Hong Kong, Convention and Exhibition Center, Hongkong
2017 Korea International Art Fair, Coex, Seoul, Republic of Korea
2016 Art Stage, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
2016 Art Basel Hong Kong, Convention and Exhibition Center, Hong kong
2016 Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh, National Theatre Auditorium, Bangladesh
2016 Korea International Art Fair, Coex, Seoul, Republic of Korea
2015 Art Stage, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
2015 Touching Moments in Macau, Insa Art Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
2015 Beyond the Visible, Nook Gallery, Seoul, Republic of Korea
2015 KIAF, Coex, Seoul, Republic of Korea
2013 SURFACE, Chelseafuturespace, London, UK
2013 KIAF, COEX Mall, Seoul, Republic of Korea
2012 R.E.D (Reality Equals Dream), Art On Gallery, Singapore
2012 An Exhibition of Korean Contemporary Art, Moorhouse Art, Albemarle Gallery, London, UK
2012 Korean Collective Milan, Barbara Frigerio Contemporary Art, Milan, Italy
2011 Korean Collective Basel 2011, Leonhard Ruthmuller | Contemporary art, Basel, Switzerland
2012 Korean Collective Den Haag 2011, Galerie Boordeinde Noordeinde, Den Haag, Netherlands
2012 Degree Show, Chelsea College of Art and Design, London, UK
INVITED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
over 300 times
COLLECTIONS
Ho-am Art Museum, Republic of Korea
Seoul Museum of Art, Republic of Korea
National Museum of contemporary Art, Republic of Korea
Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art, Republic of Korea
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Republic of Korea
Samsung Medical Center, Republic of Korea
Hyundai Motor Company, Republic of Korea
Korea East-West Power Co., Ltd, Republic of Korea
Ulsan District Court, Republic of Korea
SamSung Hotel, Republic of Korea
LS Industrial Systems Co. Ltd, Republic of Korea
LG fashion, Republic of Korea
KyoWon group, Republic of Korea
Marriott Hotel, Republic of Korea
Coreana Cosmetics Co. Ltd, Republic of Korea
City 7 Hotel, Republic of Korea
Centum Leaders Mark, Republic of Korea
AWARDS
2003 The 3rd Songeun Grand Art Exhibition, a Support Prize
2002 The 24th Joong-Ang Fine Arts Competition, a Grand Prize
2002 The 25th Dong-A Art Festival, a Dong-A Art Grand Prize
2001 The 15th National Grand Fine Art Exhibition, a Grand Prize
selected works
Invisible Space- 03051
2003, Mixed Media on Canvas, 80 x 130cm

Invisible Space- 02102
2002, Mixed Media on Canvas, 61 x 97cm

Untitled-11051
2011, Mixed Media on Canvas, 97 x 162cm

Untitled-11031
2011, Mixed Media on Canvas, 97 x 162cm

The Gesture-18027
2018, Mixed Media on Canvas, 63 x 53cm

Untitled-11051
2011, Mixed Media on Canvas, 80 x 130cm

Detail Image

Invisible Space- Image 19023
2019, Mixed Media on Canvas, 80 x 130cm

Installation View

10071
160x333cm

Installation View

12042
180x300cm

Detail Image

Invisible Space- Image 19009
2019, Mixed Media on Canvas, 80 x 130cm

Untitled-11091
2011, Mixed Media on Canvas, 61 x 91cm

The Gesture-17101,
2017, Mixed Media on Canvas, 90 x 146cm

12044

15035

140233

12014

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