Artists
CHOI YOUNG WOOK
Choi Young Wook (b.1964) is a Western style painter, known for his painting series, “Karma”. Choi has devoted fifteen years to capturing the beauty of a traditional Korean vessel: a moon jar.
“My paintings are images of memories and a medium of communication.”
-Choi Young Wook
Choi completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting at Hongik University in 1991, followed by the attainment of his Master of Fine Arts degree in 2000. He initiated his artistic career with solo exhibitions as early as 1992, marking the inception of a trajectory characterized by continual growth and development. Notably, his pieces have been acquired by esteemed institutions such as Bill Gates Foundation, Gianni Versace, Korean Air, the Philadelphia Museum, the National Modern Art Museum of Korea, Luxembourg Palace, SK Group, Lotte Group, and more.
Throughout the past decade, Choi has dedicated himself to refining his expertise in the creation of moon jars, establishing them as his signature way of expression. During his quest to find his personal style and way of expression, he encountered a Joseon-era moon jar in a museum during his trip to Europe and the US. It was then this finding led him to research, collect, and continuously paint to perfect his skills.
Today, Choi seamlessly intertwines East Asian tradition with the expressive ethos of Western modern painting, utilizing his technique and style as a conduit for this fusion. Through his artistry, the historic Joseon moon jar breathes again.
HYONG NAM AHN
Hyong Nam Ahn, a Korean artist born in 1955, is known for his sculptures that combine lights, sounds, and movements. Inspired by Kinetic Art from the 1960’s, Ahn earned his MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1980. He has created public sculptures for esteemed institutions and corporations, including McDonald Corporation in Kirkland, WA, The Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Art & Culture in Baltimore, MD, McCormick Place Donnelly Hall World Convention Center in Chicago, IL, and HMHC Hackensack Meridian Health Medical Center in Hackensack, NJ.
Ahn is fascinated by the ever-changing nature of the environment and strives to visually express this dynamic. He uses mixed media and controlling devices to vividly convey his inner thoughts. Through his art, he also explores the impact of technology on human relationships and the natural world. Despite the constant changes in the world, Ahn believes that the essence of human relationships and the universe remain unchanged.
In his recent works, Ahn draws inspiration from natural occurrences such as moonlight and migrating birds. He often incorporates sound and light to address formal aesthetic challenges, exploring how they can serve as both the subject matter and the foundation of contemporary art.
MOKU KWANGMO KU
Experience the captivating conversation between artist GwangMo Ku and the canvas. Witness the mesmerizing dance of Kyeongmi Heo within a transforming artwork. While our camera couldn’t capture the energy, prepare to be amazed by this extraordinary spectacle.
Formally trained in photography at the prestigious Kaywon School of Art and Design in Korea, Kwang Mo is a highly accomplished artist. He received the 13th Young Photographer’s Prize during the renowned Daegu Photo Biennale and was selected for the esteemed SeMA Support Program by the Seoul Art Museum in 2010. Additionally, Mo was nominated for the prestigious Prix Pictet award in France in the same year.
Mo’s talent shines through his sepia-tinted photographs showcased in “New Photography in Korea II”. His images skillfully blur the line between fantasy and reality, inviting viewers into a world where childhood memories and dreams intertwine. Through his manipulation of imagery, Mo creates timeless, limitless universes that his captivating characters embrace with ease. Prepare to be transported into otherworldly spaces where imagination knows no bounds.
PETRUS BERGSTRAND
Petrus Bergstrand Nordenskiöld is a Swedish painter, known for expressing forms of “energy, frequency, and vibration”, as explained by the artist.
“When I compose a piece, I do it mainly to fascinate myself and I always strive to transcend the art form. My paintings are my artistic statement during my time. They are a visual narrative state, without beginning or end.”
His desire to connect to the subject surfaces as he captures a specific movement, vision, and sensation that produces a “vague sound,” as he describes it. He claims that the painting has been completed once he hears the sound and feels the vibrancy. Then he gives the painting a title that allows viewers to their interpretations.
