Kim Young-sung was born in Seoul, Korea, in 1973 and is a NYC and Korea based artist. He is represented by Waterfall Mansion Gallery in New York and Plus One Gallery in London. He visually critiques how we place value on objects both commercially and ethically.
Kim Young-sung at a glance
- Born: 1973, Seoul, Korea
- Based in: New York City and Korea
- Known for: Paintings that question how we place value on objects
- Style or movement: Hyperrealism
- Themes: Modern society, consumer culture and the neglect of life
- Represented by: Waterfall Mansion Gallery in New York and Plus One Gallery in London
His work expresses the desolation of modern society and the nihilism of modern people through contrast of living and material subjects. The series shows lives threatened by advanced material civilization and reveals humans’ negligence of life. He uses advertisement and theatrical compositions to depict this phenomenon cold-heartedly.
“This series expresses the modern society where lives are threatened and many things have disappeared due to the advanced development of material civilizations.”
His work serves as a critique of how our ideas of value are rooted in commerce, showing the distinction between living beings and material objects. He illustrates this through the coexistence of objects representing life and object, presented as a piece of advertisement or a theatrical piece. His art continues to be exhibited internationally.