ILLUSTRATED:

Born and based in Seoul, Kwon Kisoo works in a wide range of media, including painting, sculpture and video. He is primarily known for his creation of Dongguri, a character that frequently appears in his work. Although humanshaped, Dongurri is an icon formed by certain marks and symbols; a by-product of modernisation in which everything is symbolised, simplified, and mechanical. Dongguri has gained wide appeal because it appeals to a younger generation that readily consumes and reproduces popular culture. He has continuously created innovative designs, marrying ultramodern elements with old traditions.

The artist's favourite motifs, such as plum blossoms, orchids, chrysanthemum and bamboo are drawn from traditional sumi painting. Each represents one of the four seasons: plum blossom for spring, orchid for summer, chrysanthemum for autumn and bamboo for winter. Rather than copying nature, sansui painters use form and technique to express their own concept of it. For them, the transcendent values of nature and the universe are not to be conquered but are an innate attitude, the order and reason of which should be studied and followed. Sansui painters express transcendent values by forgoing a visual imitation of what is seen as reality, seeking meanings in the unseen world. Sanshui is, therefore, more than a technique; it is a symbol, a paradigm and a fundamental concept.

Through his work , Kwon Ki - soo continually explores traditional themes and values , which he adapts and incorporates into contemporary art forms. His art is characterized by a creative grafting of past spiritualism onto contemporary materialism, moulded into symbols and icons. Through multiple layers of symbolism and meaning, Kwon offers viewers a playful interpretation of a world where lightness and heaviness can coexist.

(Text by Kim Sun-hee, Art Director of Zendai Himalayas Center, Shanghai)