Soonik Kwon is a contemporary artist born in 1959 in Seoul, South Korea. He graduated from the Department of Fine Arts at Sejong University. He has exhibited his works in numerous local and international exhibitions, mainly in North and South America, Europe, and more recently in China, Taipei, and Japan.
He extends the essence and spirit of the Dansaekhwa movement of Korea, tirelessly yet minimally using "Dots, Lines, and Planes" to study and meditate through his brushstrokes, representing each moment "as it is," including its aura and energy. Soonik Kwon mixes fine soil with pigments and superimposes a variety of coloration on the canvas to present a bright and vibrant color field.
The “Interstice” series incorporates the artist's unique philosophical views towards the relationship and harmony between the accumulation of time and physical space. Presented through the repetition of minimalist gestures that move across the canvas like whispers, viewers are left with a space of silence and contemplation. The gradation of hue and texture changes with the accumulation of brushstrokes on the surface of the painting, indicating the flow of instant moments and the results of the artist's research.
Soonik Kwon transitioned from ceramics to figurative painting to what can be described as "meditative abstraction" with his Absence of Ego series around 2010. His series in the following order: Absence of Ego, Interstice, and Pile up & Rub – Interstice, explore the concept of time while showcasing his remarkable fusion of colors and graphite, two opposing mediums that converge harmoniously in his works. They offer a glimpse into the artist’s journey and how he seeks to find beauty within the interstitial spaces of time: a singular philosophical vision of the relationship and harmony between the accumulation of time and physical space.
In 2008, he participated in a residency program in Spain, in 2010 at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Jeju Island, Korea, and in 2017 at Youngeun Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea.
His work is part of collections in various locations around the world: Museum of Contemporary Art of Zulia, Venezuela. National Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC), Caracas, Venezuela. Museum of Art of Tolima, Colombia. Epoch Art Museum, China. Taepyungyang (Construction company). Sungnam Art Center. Wooran Foundation. Pakyoungsa (Publishing company). Hankook Ilbo (National Newspaper). LG Chemistry. OCI Company Co., Ltd. Private Collection – Singapore, Taiwan, Venezuela, Korea, and China.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024 Art Sohyang, Busan, Korea
2024 Whitestone Gallery, Seoul, Korea
2023 Whitestone Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
2022 Tongin Gallery, Seoul, Korea
2021 Art Sohyang Gallery, Busan, Korea
2020 Whitewave Gallery, Seoul, Korea
2020 2448 Moon Fine Arts, Seoul, Korea
2020 Jeongsu Art Center, Seoul, Korea
2018 Saphira & Ventura Gallery, NewYork, USA
2018 ‘Pileup & Rub’, Youngeun Museum ofContemporary Art, Korea
2017 ‘Absenceof Ego’, Imaginart Gallery, Spain
2016 Gail Art Museum, Korea
2016 ‘LaAusencia del Ego’, Museo de Arte Moderno “Juan Astorga Anta” (MAMJAA), Merida, Venezuela
2015 Museo de Artecontemporaneo del Zulia,Venezuela
2015 Museo de Arte Contemporáneo deCaracas, Caracas, Venezuela
2014 ‘Absenceof Ego’, Palais de Seoul, Seoul,Korea
2013 Art Sohyang Gallery, Busan, Korea
2011 Whitehall Gallery, Seoul, Korea
2011 ‘Let’s Play ! Let’s get inspired !’,Mokin Museum, Seoul, Korea
2011 LGM Arte International, Bogota,Colombia
2011 ‘Lecturade la Metafora’, Espacio de UBS Punta delEste, Uruguay
2010 ’Lecturade la Metafora’ Museo de Arte del Tolima,Ibague, Colombia
2010 ’Lecturade la Metafora’, Museo de ArteContemporaneo de El Pais, Montevideo, Uruguay
2009 Art Figuratif, Art Seoul Center,Hangaram, Seoul. Korea
2007 Gallery Hankook IlBo, NationalNewspaper Seoul, Korea
2006 Gallery Jorge Ontiveros, Madrid, Spain
2005 Art Seoul, Seoul Art Center, Hangaram,Seoul, Korea
2005 Indeco Gallery, Seoul, Korea
2004 Kepco Plaza Gallery, Seoul, Korea
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025 Whitestone Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2024 Art Taipei, Taipei
2024 Art Jakarta, Indonesia
2023 ART MIAMI, Miami, USA
2023 ART CENTRAL, Hong Kong
2022 Context Art Miami, Miami, USA
2022 Scope Miami, Miami, USA
2021-22 ART021, Shanghai, China
2022 Art Taipei, Taipei
2014-24 KIAF (Korea International ArtFair), COEX, Seoul, Korea
2022 Powerlong Museum, China
2022 Xu Gallery - Powerlong Art Center,China
2022 Epoch Art Museum, China
2020 Saphira & Ventura Gallery, NewYork, USA
2019 Art Sohyang Gallery, Busan, Korea
2018 ART BUSAN, Busan, Korea
2017 Context Art Miami, Miami, USA
2017 Korea Galleries Art Fair, COEX, Seoul,Korea
2016 Scope Miami Beach, Miami, USA
2016 Yangpyeong Art Museum
2013 Art Paris Art Fair, Paris, France
2013 Art Stage Singapore, Singapore
2009-12 KIAF (Korea International ArtFair), COEX, Seoul, Korea
2011 SH - The Asia Pacific Contemporary ArtFair, Shanghai, China
2011 SCOPE Art Fair, New York, USA
2011 MIA Miami International Art Fair,Miami, USA
2011 Taipei Art Fair, Taipei, Taiwan
2010 Seoul Open Art Fair, COEX, Seoul,Korea
2010 Shanghai Art Fair, Shanghai, China
2009 Comparaisons, Grand Palais - Champs-Elysées – Paris, France
2009 ICAA Seoul International Art Fair,Chosun ilbo Gallery, Seoul, Korea
2008 ‘2008Beijing Olympic International Exchange Exhibition’ Xian, China
2008 Art Madrid, Madrid, Spain
2008 ‘MonthlyChosun, Selected by Critics, 55 Contemporary Korean Artists’, Seoul Art Center, Hangaram, Seoul, Korea
2006 Exchange culture Exhibition ofKorea-USA, Washington, USA
2005 Gallery El Espacio, Caracas, Venezuela
2005 Fiaam Art Fair, Maracaibo, Venezuela
2005 FIA (Feria Internacional de Arte),Caracas, Venezuela
2005 Exchange Culture Exhibition for theyear of Korea, Germany
2000 ‘Japan-KoreaInternational Exchange Art Exhibition’,Gallery Daerim Art, Seoul, Korea
RESIDENCY PROGRAM
2008 Cosmo Arte Gallery, Spain
2010 Jeju Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea
2017 Youngeun Museum of Contemporary Art,Korea
COLLECTIONS
Korea National Diplomatic Academy, Korea
Museo de Arte Contemporaneo del Zulia,Venezuela
Museo Nacional de Arte ContemporaneoCaracas, Venezuela
Museo de Arte del Tolima, Colombia
Epoch Art Museum, China
Taepyungyang (Construction company)
Sungnam Art Center
Wooran Foundation
Pakyoungsa (Publishing company)
Hankook IlBo Collection (NationalNewspaper)
The Haitai Confectionery and Foods Co., Ltd
LG Chemistry
OCI Company Co., Ltd
Cosmo Arte Gallery, Spain
