Kim Kang Yong, the "Brick Artist," presents a retrospective exhibition… A Path to the Aesthetics of Moderation.

This is the aspiration of "Brick Artist" Kim Kang-yong, who has spent nearly 50 years as an artist, regarding the world of art he intends to pursue in the future. He has stated that he intends to move beyond the densely packed canvases of overlapping bricks, to work that embraces the beauty of space and approaches the essence of the work.

Artist Kim Kang-yong's work primarily uses natural sand and soil, with brick as the primary material. Rather than copying actual bricks, he spreads sand on canvas and paints them as he imagines them. Like the inlay technique of Goryeo celadon, the artist meticulously scrapes out the shapes, applies color, and creates shadows to create a variety of variations on the canvas. 

Kim Kang-yong (70) will hold a retrospective exhibition titled "Kim Kang-yong: Hyper-Realistic Bricks," which chronicles his 50-year artistic career, at the Seonggok Art Museum from the 13th to September 20th. This exhibition showcases the evolution of his brick paintings from the 1970s to the present.

From 1975 to 1979, Kim primarily showcased paintings emphasizing social reality and its spatiality through his "Reality + Field" series. He then began producing brick paintings using clay and sand, employing the traditional Eastern ink-and-wash technique, until 1999. Since the 2000s, he has continued his work in both monotone and color. The exhibition also showcases his latest work, which showcases a more diverse range of visuals.

Meeting with reporters on the 11th, two days before the exhibition's opening, artist Kim shared the story of how he came to create works using bricks. Having developed a talent and passion for drawing since childhood, he began painting in earnest in his twenties. Throughout his career, he strived to develop a distinct style and artistic vision. He then began his brick work, using sand, a material that embodies the world we live in.

Kim stated that "Brickwork" carries a social message and has become a character that represents himself. He explained, "Sand is primal, like a 'dot' in painting." He added, "Pebbles become sand, then soil, and when these come together, they become architecture. Expanding on this, it resembles a society and even a nation." He added, "For over 40 years, I've been applying sand to canvas and painting with a brush. This is what differentiates me from other artists and has become my character."

 

The artist lived in New York for approximately ten years, beginning in the early 2000s, and dedicated himself to his work. During this time, he adopted the "inlaying" technique of Goryeo celadon and experimented with filling canvases with colorful silica sand. "Looking at the buildings in New York, each brick had a different color," he recalled. "The appearance of those buildings aligns with what I was aiming for. Perhaps that was the moment when I decided to embrace a new world of art."

He continued, "At the time, I only painted in monotones, but I started adding all kinds of colors. This was challenging and experimental for me," adding, "Fortunately, my work received more attention as the color era began."

Kim plans to continue his brick work, focusing more on highlighting the "mystery." He emphasized, "I use sand to symbolize the removal of bricks," and "by using the characteristic elements of bricks in moderation, an 'optical illusion' emerges, making them seem real. This reveals the essence of the work." 

Meanwhile, artist Kim Kang-yong was born in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, in 1950. He graduated from Hongik University's College of Fine Arts with a degree in Western Painting in 1978 and received his master's degree from the same university's graduate school in 1981. In 1978, he formed the hyperrealistic painting group "Reality and Reality" with fellow Hongik University students Kwon Su-an, Kim Yong-jin, Seo Jeong-chan, Song Yun-hee, Jo Deok-ho, Joo Tae-seok, and Ji Seok-cheol, and they exhibited their works. He garnered significant attention after participating in the 1999 Cologne Art Fair in Germany. Since then, he has expanded his scope of work to include China and the United States. 

by. Hyun Kyung Lee / https://www.newspim.com/news/view/20200811000639