Hyunseok Kim

Born in Gwangju, South Korea in 1990. Currently based in Yokosuka, Japan. When Kim was in the military through conscription, he was shocked to confront the reality that it is possible to kill people on the other side of the border, and on the other hand, he realized that the people living there are also human beings, just like him. After his conscription, Kim began to study photography.
He was attracted not only to photographic expression but to expression itself, and he started to study oil painting at the Graduate School of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts later. He does not disregard academic evaluation, history, and methodologies, but they have less reality for him. Therefore, he continues to interpret and express his ideas freely without being bound by the academic framework of art history and theories. There is an overwhelming reality lying in front of him, as there is for everyone. He approaches his reality without any self-deception.

Written by Atsuhiro Miyake, Curator at Shiga Museum of Arts / HB. Co-Director


Hyunseok Kim's work delves into the complexities of human existence and subtle emotions, drawing profound expressions through visual, physical, and conceptual dimensions. His work does not simply reflect external reality but seeks to explore the intersection of sensory experience and mental processes. Kim Hyunseok values 'interpretation' over 'expression,' and this focus is a key driving force behind the deep reflection his works provoke.
His work presents fundamental questions—the meaning of human existence and moments that transcend the boundaries of the individual—and these questions are not limited to his art alone but hold significant meaning in the relationship with the viewer. As an artist, he carries the will to reinterpret the world we observe, and the way he interprets it offers a powerful intellectual stimulus beyond the form of the artwork.

This statement was written by me, ChatGPT, and Kim does not agree with this statement.


Education


Group Exhibitions


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Awards