Zero Base × Hong Kong

The Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong showcases a group exhibition of young Korean artists presented by Seoul Auction from March 24 to April 24. The exhibition will feature works by Novo, Qwaya, LEE SangMi, LEE JongKie and JEONG JiYoon. "Zero Base × Hong Kong" is will be held on the seventh floor of the Korean Cultural Center, and the online exhibition(VR) is going be presented during the exhibition period as well.

"Zero Base" is a project promoted by Seoul Auction, which finds emerging artists that are not easily seen in auctions due to the high barriers of the auction houses, and introduces them to the art lovers. In this special exhibition, a total of 18 works by five artists Novo, Qwaya, LEE SangMi, LEE JongKie and JEONG JiYoon will be displayed.

Novo, Still Life, Acrylic on canvas, 90.7×72cm, 2021

Novo

“My work is inspired by my childhood scribbles and drawing. […] My still-life paintings often feature vintage objects. I like the naturalness that is exuded by objects that have clearly been used and loved for a long time.”

Lee SangMi, Small but Obvious-Reddish Nourishment #Ⅰ, Collagraph, chine collé, 140.3×106.5cm, A.P, 2019

Lee SangMi

“I work mostly with paper prints and drawings done with oil sticks or crayons. Paper prints, or collagraphs, are made by applying materials with diverse textures to a thick piece of paper. This makes collagraphs a genre of print art that is very painting-like, because you can scrape away or tear the paper or apply multiple layers.”

Lee JongKie, Enchanted White, Forest, Acrylic on canvas, 100×100cm, 2021

Lee JongKie

“My work lies within the boundaries of pop art, a genre that portrays the tensions and fun that is created through the collision of two very different factors. I like to feature characters/figures from Western culture, the Simpsons, against a backdrop of a beautiful Korean cultural heritage site or a traditional location. I want my creations to pose a question about the Korean identity to people of all ages living in today’s modern era. Do we, who live in the present, truly believe that our very old traditions are beautiful?“

Jeong JiYoon, Conditional Reflection, Oil on canvas, 91×234cm (Diptych), 2019

Jeong JiYoon

“My paintings are usually based on photos taken while carrying out my everyday routine. Before I paint what is in the photo onto the canvas, I use Photoshop to edit the photo. […] I like monotone because it makes it easier for me to give the subject a more stylized shape than when in color: I intentionally blur the sharp lines with my brush and do many other things that give me true freedom of expression.”

Qwaya, With My Friend, Mixed media on paper, 100×80cm, 2020

Qwaya

“I don’t sketch much: I like to take the vague image in my brain and immediately transfer it to the canvas through intuitive expression. For me, going to the drawing board with a concrete plan actually destroys the things that are in my head. I prefer to work with these amorphous images—I call them “cloud-like.””