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1984 /

WonJe Kang
Artwork Image
1.강원제-NO.1621Chaosmos-2021-mixed-media-220.3x177.4cm-1
Artwork Image
2.강원제-NO.1622Chaosmos-2021-220.3x177.4cm-mixed-media-220.3x177.4cm
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3.강원제-NO.2992Chaosmos-2023-mixed-mdedia-161.5x185.8cm

The core word that encapsulates the overall practice of Wonje Kang is 'process.' His work focuses on paint'ing' as a process towards completion, rather than the finished product of a painting. After drawing various images on a flat canvas, he physically disassembles them to use as materials for the next series. This new creation is then dismantled and rearranged yet again to create the next series. The initial paintings on pieces of canvases, which are the foundation of Kang's practice, are titled Zero Painting, and they reflect his philosophy that "a painting does not remain complete."

Chaosmos, a combination of "Cosmos" (meaning order) and "Chaos" (meaning disorder), intuitively conveys the collision of various aesthetic elements and sensations. The concept of destroying a completed piece and using it as material for the next work feels quite foreign to us. However, as we gradually come to understand the artist's overall approach, any initial discomfort or resistance slowly fades away. Still, the first encounter with Kang's Chaosmos may remain a confrontation with our preconceived notions of painting. As the artist explains, "Just as cosmic dust scatters in disorder and then gathers to become stars, I sought to express the energy that emerges in the process of paintings transitioning from chaos to order." In this way, Kang's philosophy, which asserts that "completion is another beginning," confronts traditional views of painting, resulting in the creation of a new form of art. Based on Kang's ongoing creative process, it is clear that the Chaosmos series will not remain static, but, like his previous works, will evolve into new forms and continue within this dynamic process.

 

The key word to describe Kang's overall work is 'process'. He works not for the purpose of painting as a finished product, but for the purpose of paint'ing, the process of moving toward completion. After painting various paintings on a flat canvas, he physically deconstructs it and uses it as material for the next work, and then deconstructs and rearranges the new work again, leading to the next work in a new form, which is the basis of Kang's work. Zero Paintingis the artist's philosophy that a painting is never finished.

Cosmos, a portmanteau of the Greek words for "order" and "chaos," meaning "disorder" or "chaos. Chaosmosintuitively shows a clash between different aesthetic elements and sensations. Normally, the concept of destroying a completed work and using it as material for the next work is very foreign to us. As we come to appreciate the artist's overall work, the initial awkwardness or initial rejection gradually fades away, but it's still a ChaosmosOur first encounter with the work can be remembered as a head-on collision with our preconceived notions of painting. As the artist explains, "I tried to express the energy that appears in the process of scattered paintings transitioning from chaos to order, just as the dust in space scatters into chaos and then reunites to become stars." The collision between the conventional view of painting and Kang's working philosophy, which claims that "completion is another beginning," has created a new form of art. Looking at Kang's work to date, we can see that he has been working on ChaosmosThe series won't stay here forever, but will morph into another form and continue along the way, just as its predecessors have done.

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