Tang Contemporary Art is pleased to present 《나의 우주; My Universe》, a solo exhibition by the widely beloved artist Woo Kukwon known for his distinctive style, from July 20 to August 24, 2024.
The ‘universe’, containing all matter and energy, exists within an immense, constantly evolving, and expanding space. It goes beyond the notions of time and space, embodying profound philosophical and psychological meanings. It provokes contemplation of human existence and evokes feelings of humility and awe. What is ‘my universe’?
The exhibition title, 《나의 우주 ; My Universe》, reveals Woo’s unique sense of humor in engaging us with comfort and amusement. ‘My Universe’ carries a two-fold meaning: it refers to the vast cosmos of galaxies and also to the name of his daughter, Wooju, which means universe in Korean. This exhibition encompasses themes he has long explored, such as ‘the exploration of the human inner self’, ‘reflection on life’, and ‘Intergenerational relationships’. The exhibition showcases his oeuvre paying homage to his father, Woo Jaekyung, highlighting the gaps, comprehension, and empathy between those two generations. This collection serves as an invitation of contemplation sent to the next generation and reflects the artist's effort to explore his own universe.
Woo Kukwon's works appear as if meticulously crafted, giving the impression of carefully stitched artworks or sometimes resembling thick oil paints that have been sculpted. The unique visual effects embedded in his works, with their intricately manipulated textures, invite us to closely observe and immerse ourselves in the artworks. His works weave relationships like stitching and delve into the inner self, initiating a narrative.
EXHIBITING WORKS
 Woo Kukwon The Nightingale and the Rose Oil on canvas 181.8 x 227.3 cm 2024 |  Woo Kukwon Sea of Galilee Oil on canvas 181.8 x 227.3 cm 2024 |  Woo Kukwon Big Fish Oil on canvas 181.8 x 227.3 cm 2024 |
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 Woo Kukwon Red Sea Oil on canvas 130.3 x 162.2 cm 2024 |  Woo Kukwon The Princess Oil on canvas 116.8 x 91 cm 2024 |  Woo Kukwon The Princess Oil on canvas 116.8 x 91 cm 2024 |
 Woo Kukwon Dear Daughter Oil on chrome 170 x 220 cm 2024 |  Woo Kukwon Dear Daughter Oil on chrome 220 x 170 cm 2024 |  Woo Kukwon Walden Oil on canvas 181.8 x 181.8 cm 2024 |
ARTISTS
Woo Kuk Won
b. 1976, Korea
Lives and works in Seoul, Korea
Woo Kukwon lives and works in Seoul. His work focuses on the gap between reality and fantasy, working mainly with oil paints as well as drawings on paper and installations.
Woo was exposed to the heavy subject of life and death at a far too early age, pushing him to hide away from reality and into the fantasy-filled story world. After growing up, he discovered the cruelty hidden behind seemingly beautiful fairy tales, making him re-interpret the world from a new perspective, driving him to investigate philosophy and religion. In the same vein, the Three “B” (Beautiful, Baby, Best) always co-exist with the death motif in his works. The equivocal co-existence of reality and fantasy called upon the artist to seek truth in fairy tales, humour in philosophy and freedom in the Bible.
Woo's early works mainly consisted of roughly scratched paintings, expressing the raw dangers of a wandering ego. His more recent works evolved into a more stable form expressed through the build-up of thick layers of paint into a rich material. His work combines cruel fairy tale scenes and roughly scribbled famous words with his natural gift of colour, creating a unique genre that mixes Pop Art and Figurative Art.
Woo is a promising artist who was selected as one of the 20 artists for the 32nd JoongAng Fine Arts Prize, which is one of Korea's most important awards. He has held numerous solo exhibitions since 2009. His art piece has been collected at Culture Convenience Club, a Japanese company that operates Tsutaya, a nationwide bookstore in Japan. Furthermore, his paintings have been collected at various museums in Korea, such as the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul National University Museum of Art, etc.
Selected Solo Exhibitions include “Once Upon Her Time”, Tang Contemporary Art (Beijing, China, 2023); “Joyful Experience”, Kolon Motors (Seoul, South Korea, 2023); “Carnival”, Tang Contemporary Art (Hong Kong, 2022); “I’m your Father”, Noblesse Collection (Seoul, South Korea, 2021); “It’s The Hard Knock Life”, Gallery BK (Seoul, South Korea, 2021); “JEREMIAH WAS A BULLFROG”, LOTTE Gallery Avenuel (Seoul, South Korea, 2020) etc. Selected Group Exhibitions include “L'Empire des sens”, Tang Contemporary Art (Seoul, Korea, 2022); “Duet Exhibition: Ha Jeongwoo & Woo Kukwon", 313 Cheongdam Space (Seoul, South Korea, 2022); “The Forties: Alluring Moments”, Gallery Joeun (Seoul, South Korea, 2021); “Brave New Gaze: Vision, Gaze, and Start”, ATELIER AKI (Seoul, South Korea, 2020); “Age of 40s: You were enchanted”, Gallery Joeun (Seoul, South Korea, 2020); “Dialogue”, ATELIER AKI (Seoul, South Korea, 2020) etc.