WENDEPUNKT
Korean Art in Focus: An exhibition of contemporary Korean artists Jae-Seong Ryu, Hwan Myung Kim, Koeun Lee and Joo Young Kim, presented by the Arta Libera Gallery and the Q Gallery Berlin. The upcoming exhibition WENDEPUNKT at Q Gallery Berlin presents the work of four interesting Korean artists, each of whom explores deeply personal and artistic processes in their work. This exhibition offers a unique insight into the diversity and depth of contemporary Korean art. Jae-Seong Ryu (*1986, Suwon) shows in his paintings the constant struggle to overcome the two-dimensional limitation of the canvas. ‘When I face the canvas, it feels like a wall,’ Ryu explains. ‘My painting is an attempt to overcome this wall. Through brushstrokes, I break through the two-dimensional surface and open up a free, flowing three-dimensional space.’ This dynamic approach is reflected in his impressive works, which have received international recognition, including solo exhibitions such as ‘X-Ray’ (2022) in Düsseldorf and ‘Fully Empty’ (2021) in Meerbusch. In his works, Hwan Myung Kim (*1992) explores pixels as fundamental elements of digital images. ‘My project explores pixels, a form of digital images. It is about the digital world, the three-dimensional forms that can be seen on the screen,’ says Kim. His works, which have been shown at venues including the IN Gallery in Seoul and the Sunkwang Museum in Incheon, analyse the concept of ‘dissolution’ and express the essence of digital image structures in a radically reduced form. Koeun Lee (*1986, Seoul) focuses in her work on the visual transformation of natural surfaces. ‘The turning point of my work is the visual transformation of natural surfaces,’ explains Lee. ‘The texture and pattern of the surface are replaced by sculptural oil paint and expressive techniques to depict various abstract images.’ Her works have been exhibited in renowned galleries and art houses in Düsseldorf and Berlin, including the exhibition ‘Surface Textures of Nature’ (2016) and her solo exhibition ‘Atelier Exhibition’ (2020). In this exhibition, Yoo Young Kim presents works that reflect the stylistic and formal turning points in her artistic career. After studying fine arts in Dresden, she has shown her work in major art fairs and exhibitions in Europe and Korea. Her art shows a profound exploration of personal transformations and reflects the tensions between tradition and modernity. This exhibition brings together four artists who, although coming from different perspectives, have had a decisive influence on the contemporary Korean art scene. Their works offer an insight into the artistic exploration of space, digitalisation, nature and personal transformation.
