Choi Hyeong-gil(KIDARI GALLERY)
Choi Hyung-gil’s paintings reflect the laughable yet unfortunate reality where personal and social desires clash over the minimal requirement of survival we call “house” through fossilized gray scenes. The artist consoles and cures the pain of this age through his unique cartoonish painting style.
Choi Hyeong-gil is a painter who makes paintings that show the busy lives of modern people through the character “Mr. Kim.”
His works are filled with images of houses, which are considered the source of happiness and the definition of wealth by modern people.
The houses are symbolic expressions of large sums of money, and Choi’s paintings that portray these houses reflect the minds and thoughts of modern people who keep themselves busy every day to step closer to their dreams.
As a child, Choi Hyeong Gil wanted to become a cartoonist. He was fascinated by art during a visit to an artist’s studio in college, which led him to start his own career in art. In 2008, the artist was awarded a special prize at the 27th Grand Art Exhibition of Korea.
Choi, who dexterous by nature, makes both paintings and wooden sculptures, and also draws on his sculptures as if they are canvases. In 2021, Choi was named an invited artist by Art Revolution Taipei.
The artist, who once dreamed of becoming a cartoonist, became a civil engineer student, but started taking painting classes because he could not give up his dream. Since then, he has been working as an artist, and in 2008, he was named the winner of a special prize at the Grand Art Exhibition of Korea.
Choi Hyeong-gil’s iconic series Mr. Kim Runs Today is currently drawing attention from domestic and foreign collectors. In addition to painting, Choi makes extremely fine sculptures with soil and wood.
Choi Hyeong-gil, 〈Mr.Kim's life〉, 2022, Acrylic, Pencil on soft cotton, 91 x 91.2 cm.
Hyung gil Choi, 〈Bugok-dong 674〉, 2017, Ink, Acrylic on canvas, 65 x 53 cm.
Hyung gil Choi, 〈Bugok-dong 673〉, 2019, Ink, Acrylic on canvas, 160 x 110 cm.
Hyung gil Choi, 〈Mr. Kim runs today〉, 2022, Acrylic, Pencil on soft cotton, 35 x 81 cm.
Mr. Kim, who is portrayed running vigorously, or taking a short break with a sip of coffee and a cigarette, or with children on weekends, captures the life of the breadwinner we see in our daily lives.
Hyung gil Choi, 〈Miss Kim Runs today〉, 2020, Ink, Acrylic on canvas, 61 x 81 cm.
Choi is also known for the sincerity for art he reflects in his work. His works are full of small houses which are meticulously drawn with ink pens, showing the amount of time, perseverance, patience, and passion required to paint them. His sculptures, which are the results of bringing the characters in the painting out to the real space, are also carefully colored and painted.
