VLAB is pleased to present the solo exhibition "LONELY SKINS" featuring new works by Kwang Hyun Kim that have never been shown previously in an exhibition. The presentation also marks the artist’s first exhibition with the gallery in Madrid.

Kwang Hyun Kim (Busan, 1982) is an artist from South Korea whose paintings focus on the feelings of loneliness, contemplation and passion. His detailed acrylic on canvas pieces feature intriguing characters with odd facial expressions and they have been exhibited all over the world in prestigious galleries and art fairs.

After earning a BA in Fine Arts in Kyungsung University in 2010, he majored in Korean painting and then he pursued graffiti as a hobby and worked in the field of Japanese Buddhist art for two years. His style is deeply inspired by his father’s work as a cartoonist, as well as traditional Buddhist art.

The characters of the works displayed in this exhibition represent the inherent loneliness of each person. Each painting portrays moments of how we cope with loneliness. The figures can express either attachment or affection towards others, but above all, they are merely contemplating their loneliness.

The figures in Kim’s paintings are often alone, but they are not lonely. They are lost in their thoughts, contemplating the mysteries of life and the universe. Kim’s paintings suggest that moments of self-reflection can be experienced by anyone who takes the time to look at his work. Through his art, Kim reminds us of the importance of taking time for self-reflection and introspection.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Kim’s work is the odd facial expressions he gives his characters. They are often contorted or exaggerated, suggesting intense emotions and deep inner turmoil. Their apparently translucent and thin skin represents the delicate boundary between their inner world and the outer world beyond themselves. They prove their existence to the outside world through their thin skin. This evidence is a process of mutual recognition of each individual's ultimate limit, and leads inevitably to inherent loneliness, a metaphor for how Kim's standards for perceiving and judging others are as thin and ambiguous as their skin. These facial expressions are a key part of Kim’s artistic style, as they help to convey the emotional intensity of his paintings.

The exhibition "LONELY SKINS" will be on view at VLAB through July 15th, 2023.