2025 Kumho Young Artist Exhibition
At Kumho Museum of Art Until April 27
Featuring Works by Kang Cheolgyu, Song Seungjun, and Lee Haeban
Three emerging artists present their artworks that capture the coexistence of peace and danger, sanctions and freedom in different ways.
Kumho Museum of Art is holding Part 1 of the ‘2025 Kumho Young Artist’ exhibition until April 27, featuring solo exhibitions by artists Kang Cheol-gyu, Song Seung-jun, and Lee Hae-ban. At a press conference held on the 20th at Kumho Museum of Art in Jongno-gu, Seoul, the three artists explained their artistic worlds embodied in their works titled ‘Warrior’s Diary’ (Kang Cheol-gyu), ‘Pollinator’ (Song Seung-jun), and ‘Hidden Blooming’ (Lee Hae-ban).
This exhibition is composed of three floors, with each artist responsible for one floor. The basement level 1 features Song Seung-jun’s installation work, which depicts the eerie and contradictory aspects existing behind the green zone of nature. As an extension of ecological insight, the artist focuses on the vitality within the no-man’s-land ecosystem. He explained, “The DMZ is a space checked by numerous violent elements, but it is also a place where life is created. I expressed the continuity of such life.”
Diamond shapes can be found throughout Song Seung-jun’s installations. The frames hanging on the wall are diamond-shaped, and diamond patterns are engraved on the black book on the table as well as on the table itself. Song said, “While squares have a modern image, I think diamonds resemble nature. Inside the diamond, I depicted the shape of a flower’s pistil, which looks natural but portrays hidden violence.”
The second floor exhibits works by Lee Hae-ban. Based on his experience growing up near the DMZ in Cheorwon, he incorporated the structures of borders and socio-cultural influences found in various border regions of different countries into his images. Lee explained, “I crossed Eurasia and visited the Yalu River. Living in Europe, I often visited border areas. Such regions have many restriction signs prohibiting photography or crossing, and I metaphorically expressed those marks.” He portrayed the coexistence where the buffer zones, established to avoid conflicts between countries, maintain the natural order by human non-intervention through a series of paintings and murals.
The third floor is dedicated to Kang Cheol-gyu’s personal narrative world. He mixed reality and fiction on the canvas based on autobiographical experiences from the past year. The half-human, half-beast figures appearing throughout the works represent the artist’s fragmented self, metaphorically showing inner conflicts and reflections. Kang said, “I have an escapist tendency that makes it hard to reveal myself, and I was often told I was fragile. After turning thirty, my self-hatred intensified, and a strong reaction to become a better person emerged. I expressed this shrinking intangible state through images.” He added, “If you look closely, some parts are bold, while others feature unfamiliar figures revealing danger.”
Having supported 101 young artists so far, Kumho Museum of Art is holding solo exhibitions by Kang Cheol-gyu, Song Seung-jun, and Lee Hae-ban in Part 1, and will proceed with solo exhibitions by Kang Na-young, Yoo Sang-woo, and Joo Hyung-jun from May 9 in Part 2.
Starting April 12, artist talks will be held every Saturday as part of the exhibition’s related programs. Kang Cheol-gyu will present on the 12th, Song Seung-jun on the 19th, and Lee Hae-ban on the 26th.
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