Introduction
Gallery Chang is delighted to present REALITY + IMAGE: BEYOND THE BRICKS, a solo exhibition by Korean artist Kim Kang Yong.
Kim Kang Yong is renowned for his captivating exploration of hyperrealism and the interplay between reality and image. He frequently uses the depiction of bricks as a metaphor for the boundary between the real and the imaginary. We invite you to join us and immerse yourself in this thought provoking experience.
Kim Kang Yong’s approach to brick motifs underwent a significant transformation upon his arrival in New York in 2005. Kim stayed in New York for two years, during which the vibrant spectrum of brick colors in Manhattan inspired him to evolve from monochrome to multicolored works. This experience marked a pivotal shift in his artistic practice. Upon returning to Korea, Kim continued to experiment and enrich the depth and diversity of his expression.
Kim’s brick paintings challenge the viewer’s sense of reality. Although they look incredibly realistic, they are virtual representations based on the artist’s imagination. On sand covered canvases, Kim employs shading to expertly produce the illusion of bricks, utilizing light and shadow to impart depth and texture. Shadows are essential in his work, defining surfaces, creating divisions, and giving the impression of bricks protruding and receding.
Despite often being categorized as hyperrealism, Kim rejects this label. He considers his bricks to be illusions, highlighting their purpose in expressing his artistic vision. His work focuses on themes of repetition and formativity, demonstrating his skill in creating tension and balance through the repeated use of identical shapes.
For the artist, the way grains of sand form bricks, and bricks come together to form buildings is similar to how cells come together to form a person, paralleling the individuals coming together to form society. Through his paintings, Kim symbolically expresses the importance of particles and humanity.
Installation Views
