VLAB is pleased to present the solo exhibition "ONE STEP AHEAD" featuring new paintings by SOCKO that have never before been shown in an exhibition. The presentation also marks the artist’s first exhibition with the gallery in Madrid.

Socko was born in Seoul, South Korea in 1993. He studied at The School of Visual Arts in New York City, where he is currently based. Socko is mainly known for his bright and colorful paintings depicting the character "Dough", who explores the confrontation of fear and conflict in a universe combined by pastel and electric colors.

"Dough" can be considered a sort of alter ego of the artist when he moved from Seoul to Los Angeles at the age of 16, and of the feelings he carried with him: fear and hope. Dough is ageless, he could be anything from a baby to a teenager, but instead of conveying uncertainty, he expresses a sense of security that seems to invite us to enjoy the freedom of recognizing our own feelings and taking that step forward into the unknown.

This personification of Socko's philosophy of life is reminiscent of the cartoons and toys of the 1990s. With his doll-like eyes and childlike expression, Dough embodies a deep sense of innocence and nostalgia, very necessary in this world and with which the artist intends that everyone who looks at him can empathize.

Using pastel shades, Socko produces an astonishingly enigmatic and delicate texture. He demonstrates the deep, rich tones can complement each other perfectly when used in the right way. In addition, with acrylic he can create textures that give the impression of being three-dimensional, allowing him greater creative freedom.

The exhibition “ONE STEP AHEAD” will be on view at VLAB until February 25th, 2023.