LEE KANGWOOK : INVISIBLE SPACES by Tom Woo

L E E K A N G WO O K I N V I S I B L E S PAC E S

THE ESSENCE OF UNIVERSE : LEE KANGWOOK’S INVISIBLE SPACES

Lee Kangwook has been investigating extensively on the ‘invisible spaces’ of the human body and of the universe and its interconnectedness from the early stage of his ar tistic oeuvre. His earlier paintings concentrated on the depiction of evident microscopic body with amorphous and organic formed cellular motif drawings accompanied by enlarged semi transparent cells images at the backdrop. These central forms in the paintings gradually evolves into geometric shapes and linear lines dominant in abstract quality with decorative exquisiteness which seems to explore grandeur macroscopic universal order of the galaxy. The ar tist’s continuous exploration into this abstract visual language is the eloquent manifestation of the infinitely expansive and invisible spaces, in which, we search for the truth of ‘the whole’, ‘the one’, ‘myself ’ and their interconnectivity through the inevitable similarities between the micro and the macro and the body and the cosmos. According to Upanishad, the ancient Hindu philosophy, the world is symbolised by two different concepts – Braham and Atman. Brahman is the universal spirit and the ultimate essence of the absolute infinite existence of the cosmos and Atman signifies an individual self and the soul of living creatures. As many of Eastern religions and philosophies have originated from the Upanishad, the ar tist draws attention to its core philosophy that the two opposite factors are after all equal in its essence. Especially to the ancient Indian’s belief on that the human body is connected with unparalleled cosmic significance and par ts of the body are homologised with cosmic phenomena. Likewise, Lee’s paintings and its compositions evoke of infinite cosmic space full of minute par ticles simultaneously which we expect to discover in both macro and micro spaces. - Just as from a single lump of clay, dear boy, one would know about ever ything made from clay, the difference being a mere verbal distinction, a name, the reality is only `clay.’ - Just as from one lump of copper, dear boy, one would know about ever ything made from copper, the difference being a mere verbal distinction, a name, the reality is only `copper.’ - Bring a fig from over there. - Here it is, sir. - Divide it. - It is divided, sir. - What do you see there? - These rather small seeds, sir. - Divide one. - It is divided, sir. - What do you see? - Nothing, sir. - Dear boy, that finest essence which you do not perceive, from this ver y essence, dear boy, that great fig tree arises. - Believe me, dear boy, that which is the finest essence, the whole universe has That as its soul. That is Reality, That is the Self, and That is you, Svetaketu!

Chandogya Upanishad, Chapter 6,1.4-5, 12.1-3

Each fluid lines and circles are perhaps the journeys and the orbits of human lives or the universe in which our eyes relentlessly follow the infinite lines in search for the truth. The sparkling decorative minute par ticles may indicate the insignificance of human being in this grandeur universe and the temporal world. Nonetheless, the soothing and comfor ting notion is that I am as well as you are and all the living being in this world still are the Essence of the universe.

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Untitled-12037 | mixed media on canvas | 100 x 200 cm | 2012

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Untitled-12044 | mixed media on canvas | 95 x 160 cm | 2012

Untitled-12046 | mixed media on canvas | 80 x 130 cm | 2012

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Untitled- 12050 | mixed media on canvas | 170 x 750 cm | 2012

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Untitled- 12054 | mixed media on canvas | 40 x 30 cm | 2012

Untitled- 12061 | mixed media on canvas | 40 x 30 cm | 2012

Untitled- 12067 | mixed media on canvas | 40 x 30 cm | 2012

Untitled- 12064 | mixed media on canvas | 40 x 30 cm | 2012

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Untitled- 12066 | mixed media on canvas | 40 x 30 cm | 2012

Untitled- 12069 | mixed media on canvas | 40 x 30 cm | 2012

Untitled- 12063 | mixed media on canvas | 40 x 30 cm | 2012

Untitled- 12070 | mixed media on canvas | 40 x 30 cm | 2012

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Invisible Space-12048 | mixed media on canvas | 95x 160 cm | 2012

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Invisible Space-12049 | mixed media on canvas | 95x 160 cm | 2012

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Invisible Space-image 12039 | mixed media on canvas | 95 x 160 cm | 2012

Invisible Space-image 12040 | mixed media on canvas | 95 x 160 cm | 2012

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LEE KANGWOOK ( b1976 )

He lives and works in London. 2011 Graduated from MA in Fine Ar t, Chelsea College of Ar t and Design M.A 2004 The 3rd Resident Ar tist, Changdong National Ar t Studio (National Museum of contemporary Ar t, Korea) 2003 Graduated from Graduate School of Painting Dept., Hong-Ik Univ. M.F.A, Seoul, Korea 2001 Graduated from Painting Dept., College of Fine Ar ts, Hong-Ik Univ. B.F.A, Seoul, Korea SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2012 Asia House, London, UK Hada Contemporary, London, UK 2011 Gallery Rho, Seoul, Korea 2007 Gallery Rho, Seoul, Korea Hino Gallery, Tokyo, Japan 2006 Spring Gallery, Shanghai, China 2005 Galerie de Temps, Tokyo, Japan Cheltenham Ar t Center, Philadelphia, U.S.A Gallery Will, Gana Ar t center, Seoul, Korea 2004 Gallery Rho, Seoul, Korea Gallery Ju-ichi gatsu, Tokyo, Japan 2002 Total Ar t Museum, Jangheung, Korea Hanjeon Plaza Gallery, Seoul, Korea SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2012 R.E.D., Reality Equals Dream, Ar t On Gallery, Singapore Korean Collective Milan, Barbara Frigerio Contemporary Ar t, Milan 2011 Korean Collective Basel 2011, Leonhard Ruthmuller Contemporary ar t, Basel, Switzerland Korean Collective Den Haag 2011, Galerie Noordeinde, Den Haag, Netherlands Degree Show, Chelsea College of Ar t and Design, London, United Kingdom 2010 Korean Collective London 2010, Albemarle Gallery, London, United Kingdom 2009 Ar tist of tomorrow, Gallery Rho, Seoul Lee Kang-wook & Hong Sung-Chul Exhibition, Andy’s Gallery, Seoul Lee Kang-wook & Ban Joo-young Exhibition, GAllery MANO, Seoul The Light of Korean Contemporary Painting, Woorim Gallery, Seoul The True of Retina, Interalia, Seoul 2008 Project Overview - New Landscape, InSa Ar t Center, Seoul Emergentism, Edge Gallery, HongKong KAMI’s Choice: The Soul of Korean Contemporary Ar t, InSa Ar t Center, Seoul Avenuel Exhibition ‘The Blooming Soul’, Gallery Avenuel, Seoul 25 Key word showing Young Trend of Korean Contemporary Ar t, Insa Ar t center, Seoul 2007 Lee Kang-wook & La Yoo-seul Exhibition, Gallery MANO, Seoul H · ar t “Speed Up”, Hyundai Motor Company, Seoul 55 Contemporary Ar tists Selected by Critics under The Sponsorship of Monthly Chosun, Seoul Ar t Center, Seoul 2006 Small Painting, Large Mind, Rho Gallery, Seoul Beijing International Ar t Exposition, Exhibition Hall of China World Trade Center, Beijing, China Contemporary Ar t of Korea and Japan, ONO Gallery, Tokyo, Japan

We Meet Prague-Korea, Contemporary Ar t 16 Ar tists Joint Exhibition, Galerie Passage, Prague, Czech Republic Organic Form, Chosun Ar t Gallery, Seoul 2005 “Blue”Exhibition, Gana Ar t center, Seoul Seoul Young Ar tist Exhibition-Por tfolio2005, Seoul Museum of Ar t, Seoul The 1st Seoul Young Ar tist Biennial, Seoul Museum of Ar t, Seoul For the Mutual Understanding of Contemporary Ar ts between Korea and America, Cheltenham Ar t Center, Philadelphia, U.S.A “My Private Gallery”, Gana Ar t center, Seoul 2004 “Happiness-Ar t Travel” Exhibition with CJ, Eleven, Josun-ilbo Ar t Museum, Seoul Sketch-Incompletion for Completion or Completion for Incompletion, gallery Demain, Seoul “Cutting Edge” Exhibition, Seoul Auction Center, Seoul “Red Heaven” Exhibition, Changdong National Ar t Studio, Seoul The 10th contemporary Ar t of Korea and Japan, Chikyudo galler y, Tokyo, Japan 2003 “Self-demonstration”, Gallery Chang, Seoul The 9th Contemporary Ar ts of Korea And Japan, Seoul gallery, Seoul Inspection of Contemporary Ar ts, Kyonggido Culture, Ar t Center, Suwon “Tokyo-ten” Exhibition, Tokyo Metropolitan Ar t Museum, Japan 2002 Curator Museum of Xi.,an (Xi.an History Museum, Xi.an, China) “Multifarious Colours in Shinchon”, Hyundai Ar t Galley, Seoul 2001 G.P.S “4 Inductions”, Hong-ik University Museum of Contemporary Ar t, Seoul Jeongok Archaeology Install Ar t Festival-“Connection-Chongoknian”, Jeongok Archaeology Museum, Yeonchun 2000 The 11th Misulsegae Grand Ar t Exhibition, Sejong Center for the Performing Ar ts, Seoul The 31st University Ar t Festival, Sungkyunkwan University Ar t Gallery, Seoul SELECTED AWARDS 2003 The 3rd Songeun Grand Ar t Exhibition, A Suppor t Prize 2002 The 24th Joong-Ang Fine Ar ts Competition, A Grand Prize 2002 The 25th Dong-A Ar t Festival, A Dong-A Ar t Grand Prize 2001 The 15th National Grand Fine Ar t Exhibition, A Grand Prize 2000 The 31st University Ar t Festival, A Special Prize SELECTED COLLECTIONS Ho-am Art Museum Seoul Museum of Art National Museum of contemporary Art Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade LS Industrial Systems Co. Ltd. Coreana Cosmetics Co. Ltd

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This catalogue is published by HADA Contemporary to accompany the exhibition:

LEE KANGWOOK INVISIBLE SPACES 4 - 28 OCTOBER 2012 ÂŠ HADA Contemporary Ltd. 2012 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers

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