Artist Inju Kang
Nature's wonder created by the tip of a painting knife
Kang's works to be shown in prestigious international exhibitions
45 years of passion in western painting
Layers and layers of matiere to express nature's wonder
Born in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, Korea, artist Kang showed a great talent in painting since he was a little boy and he eventually majored in western painting at Hongik University (the top art university in Korea). But it was when he was discharged from military service that he started to develop his unique style and he has walked this single path for the last 45 years. The Korean art market was dominated by oriental painting due to its familiar application to folding screens and fans around the time Kang started western painting. Thanks to its unpopularity of the genre, Kang often had to exhibit his works at coffee shops and had to walk around the town to sell his paintings to medical doctors or had to work as a petty construction worker to feed his family. But he never lost his passion in painting.
Kang's works are unique in a way that the style lies somewhere between representational and abstract but with profound color and texture expressed by the tip of a painting knife. His masterpiece 'The Sounds' for example is created with layers and layers of matiere and delicate color yet it shows powerful moments sequentially. One might cannot help but feel awed while appreciating the work.
Developing unique style with a painting knife
The artist of the age who's passion is in nothing but art
Kang said "One day, I climbed a mountain, saw the sky and bowed my head down to the earth and found a wild flower. I felt that the flower was saying to me "I've been waiting for you in full bloom for a long time but what took you so long?". I went back to my studio starting painting in ernest." But instead of using a brush, Kang took a painting knife as the tool to express himself.
Since his first solo exhibition in 1984, Kang has held 26 solo exhibitions including Lotte Department Store Art Hall, Seoul Kyungin Museum of Fine Art, Dijon Almari Gallery, New York Contact Gallery and participated in numerous international exhibitions including Moscow Saint Petersburg Exhibition, the UK Kingston Invitation Exhibition, New York Affordable Art Fair and Hong Kong Asia Contemporary Art Show. Saint Petersburg Exhibition in particular was participated by 50 artists but Kang was the sole artist who sold his work.
As Kang was receiving more and more attention in art world, many people and organizations have asked Kang to start to give lectures but he has only focused on creating his own works. This might be one of the reasons that there have been an increasing number of people who wish to buy one of Kang's works. Unprecedented and unique, Kang's works are highly praised by the people who say that they cannot buy other works once possessing one of his works.
"I want to create works that give the voice of nature"
Continuous participation in international art fair
Kang gave the name 'The Sound' to his showpiece because he feels that the painting delivers the sound of nature. Kang said "We had better live in harmony with nature and listen to the sound that cures one's wound. I just want to help them to hear it through my works." For this reason, Kang never sets a price for his works but the value is for the appreciator to decide. Kang continued "Artist is the hero of audience. Many people prefer to see beautiful mountains in four seasons but I think artists should rather be a lake that can give tranquility and rest."
Kang is rather doubtful about the current trend of abstractionism because the important thing is one's own story but not a trend. Meanwhile, in order to broaden his way of communication with people, Kang is planning to participate in as many international exhibitions and art fair as possible. Power Korea hopes that Kang will spread his unique art style to the world over Korea.
강인주 프로필
개인전 26회(한국․프랑스․미국․홍콩 등)
초대전
2015 미국 텍사스휘스턴 아트쇼
2014 아시아 컨템퍼러리 아트쇼(Hong Kong)
2014 어포더블 아트페어(New York)
2013 파운틴 아트페어(New York)
2012 영국 킴스톤시 초대전
2012 프랑스 디종 개인초대전
2011 러시아 모스크바 상떼 페테르부르크전
2010 서울 모든아트쇼(양재AT센터)
2010 KOAS 미술세계 외도 초대전(인사아트센터)
2009 한․몽 수교19주년기념 특별기획 초대전(북경, 중국)
