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.

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biography

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