The Gesture-23015 The Gesture-23015

‘Gesture’ is the bodily trace of the artist embedded within the painting. Variations in brushstroke speed, rhythm, and pressure introduce temporality and eventfulness to the surface.

《1mm Border》《1mm Border》

Lee Kang Wook’s solo exhibition will be held at PLACE C from March 8 to July 31, 2025. Known for exploring the mysteries of the universe through geometric forms and vibrant color palettes, Lee presents a total of 140 works in this exhibition, including the newly introduced ‘White Gesture’ series and a monumental 20-meter-long painting.

Untitled-12014 Untitled-12014

‘Geometric’ elements provide structure and rhythm within the pictorial space. Lines, planes, and repeated geometric forms organize the composition without fully stabilizing it.

《Shifting Colors》《Shifting Colors》

GANA Art Busan will present Lee Kang Wook’s solo exhibition 《Shifting Colors》 from March 17 to April 10. This exhibition marks the artist’s first solo presentation in Busan and features approximately 40 works from the ‘The Gesture’ and ‘Invisible Space’ series.

Invisible Space-Image 19026 Invisible Space-Image 19026

The “Rice grain” image is a metaphorical unit used by the artist to describe microscopic visual elements. Dots, particles, and small forms may appear insignificant individually, yet through repetition and accumulation they generate a larger spatial field.

Exhibitions

Exhibitions 《Shifting Shapes and Shades》 Beginning from the microscopic world of cells and extending toward the paradoxical concept of the macroscopic universe, the solo exhibition of Lee Kang-uk, professor at Hongik University, titled 《Shifting Shapes and Shades》, will be held at LOTUS Gallery, Mugaksa Temple, in Gwangju, from August 26 (Thu) to October 31 (Sun). 2021.08.25

Exhibitions 《Invisible Space》 In the 2000s, Lee Kang Wook—an artist who swept the top prizes of all major and prestigious open-call exhibitions held in Korea, earning the title of a “Grand Slam” winner of national competitions—will hold a solo exhibition at Noh Gallery from November 9 (Wed) to November 25 (Fri). 2011.11.08

Exhibitions 《Invisible Space》 Tokyo Gallery + BTAP announces《Invisible Space》, a solo exhibition by South Korean artist Kang Wook Lee opening Saturday 5 April. Born in 1976, Lee Kang Wook obtained his master’s degree in oil painting from Hongik University in 2003 and has gone on to exhibit actively both within South Korea and overseas. 2014.04.04

Exhibitions 《Shifting Colors》 GANA Art Busan will present Lee Kang Wook’s solo exhibition 《Shifting Colors》 from March 17 to April 10. This exhibition marks the artist’s first solo presentation in Busan and features approximately 40 works from the ‘The Gesture’ and ‘Invisible Space’ series. 2022.03.16

Activities

Activities [People, People] Grand Prize Winner of the 24th JoongAng Fine Arts Competition, Lee Kang Wook Lee Kang Wook (26), who won the Grand Prize at the 24th JoongAng Art Competition, repeatedly emphasized the word “again,” saying that he would take this award as motivation to work even harder. With his bright expression and slender build giving him a boyish impression, he has nevertheless maintained a firm conviction about painting, stating clearly—despite his gentle appearance—that “painting is a personal story of the artist.” 2002.09.17

Activities World-Renowned Spanish Art Market “ARCOmadrid” Opens A 30-minute drive from central Madrid brings visitors to IFEMA (Institución Ferial de Madrid), a vast, state-of-the-art exhibition complex whose cutting-edge architecture stands in stark contrast to the historic character of the Spanish capital. From the 15th, for five days, Halls 7 and 9 host “ARCOmadrid”, one of the world’s leading international contemporary art fairs. 2007.02.15

Activities DREAM EYE CENTER Produces Reusable Bags in Collaboration with Contemporary Artist Lee Kang Wook as Part of Its ESG Management Gangnam-based DREAM EYE CENTER has produced a reusable bag in collaboration with contemporary artist Lee Kang Wook as part of its ESG management initiative. ESG management refers to environmentally friendly and sustainable business practices, encompassing Environment, Social, and Governance. 2024.05.07

Activities Artist Lee Kang Wook Named First Recipient of the ‘Samdoo Art Award’ The first recipient of the ‘Samdoo Art Award’, established by the Ulsan-based company Samdoo Engineering to support the development of local arts, has been selected as artist Lee Kang Wook, a native of Ulsan and professor in the Department of Painting at Hongik University. The prize includes an award of 20 million KRW and a solo exhibition to be held at Art Nasal in Seosaeng from January 27 to February 26 next year. 2022.12.01

Activities “Fabriano” Art Collection with Artist Kangwook Lee The collaboration artwork between the Fabriano team, known for participating in the art collections of renowned museums such as the Louvre and the Metropolitan Museum with works by world-famous artists like Picasso and Monet, and a Korean artist Lee Kang Wook, has been released for the first time. 2020

Writings

Criticisms The Passion for Painterly Monads of Open Potential : On the Occasion of Lee Kang Wook’s Exhibition,《1mm Border》at Place C Delicately drawn lines and pale coloured patches are floating on the surface of paintings. Oval and rectangular forms are emerging in different sizes and at times are incomplete, just suggestive enough of these forms, and at other times overlapping each other as if repeating itself in spatial successions. 2025.03.03

Criticisms Lee Kang Wook : Macroscopic Scenes Reflecting Microscopic Sensibility While works based on hyperrealism and narrative were mainstream in the early and mid-2000s, Lee was well known for abstract and simultaneously emotional scenes with a flavor of drawing represented by delicate surface treatment. In ‘Invisible Space’, Lee tries to depict the space he inhabits, his surroundings, the nature 2011.09

Criticisms On Lee Kang Wook’s Painting – A Representation of Sensuous Illusions An atom is nothing but an assumption for our convenience. It does not exist in reality. What is present is nothing but an idiosyncratic feature in the same physical continuity. Atoms are the conceptualization of the spirit isolating matter from all attributes of beings. In fact, the spirit makes all beings remain in a complete, independent four-dimensional world. As if surrounded by a myriad of mirrors, what makes a reflection by these singular atoms is none other than a sensuous illusion. (Gaston de Pawlowski, Travel to a Four-dimensional Space, ed. Images Modernes, 1923, pp. 104–105) 2022.12.01

Criticisms Double Negation: Lee Kang Wook’s Recent Paintings Delicately drawn lines and pale coloured patches are floating on the surface of paintings. Oval and rectangular forms are emerging in different sizes and at times are incomplete, just suggestive enough of these forms, and at other times overlapping each other as if repeating itself in spatial successions. 2020.08.12