▲ 가시나무트리, Acrylic on canvas, 89x130cm, 2023 ⓒ Ki-ill Park, Lee Hwaik Gallery

Ki-ill Park holds his solo exhibition, 'Placeless Places' at the Lee Hwaik Gallery in Seoul.

Park is a Korean painter who reconstruct memories imprinted on the canvas in his experiences. He creates works from memories of seeing when the neighborhood he played with his friends turned into a wasteland due to redevelopment, and memories of imagining that comic books he wanted to have as a child would be filled in a warehouse that no one knows.

▲ Dux, Acrylic on canvas, 145.5x97cm, 2022 ⓒ Ki-ill Park, Lee Hwaik Gallery

His mother worked with a sewing machine for more than 40 years, so he often kept home alone. Although he might seem lonely, he had fun and wonderful days in his imagination like a cartoon character.

In this way, the artist wants to create immersion and emotional exchange in the memory beyond sharing his memories by drawing based on his experiences. 

▲ Mishin Rider, Acrylic on canvas, 100x199.5cm, 2022 ⓒ Ki-ill Park, Lee Hwaik Gallery

The artist uses an airbrush to have a very realistic and detailed style without any brush marks. His work is so exquisite that it looks like a printed photo, and the thickness of the paint is hardly felt.

Like the title of the exhibition, places that have already disappeared or exist differently from memory are depicted in his work. His work shows the intermediate stage between imagination and reality and evokes nostalgia for childhood.

▲ Some Place4 빨간 자동차와 그림들, Acrylic on canvas, 72.5cm, 2023 ⓒ Ki-ill Park, Lee Hwaik Gallery

The exhibition will be held at the Lee Hwaik Gallery in Jongro-gu, Seoul until the 30th.

Sayart / Nao Yim, yimnao@naver.com