Artist Mooa Kang (b. 1992) continues to work with painting, sculpture, objects, and textiles, focusing on the relationship between three themes: nature, color, and the body. By reinterpreting the curvilinear, organic images commonly found in nature and the body, they recreate abstract scenes. Mooa is interested in posing questions about the creation and dissolution of existence, aiming to encounter a world of fantasy within everyday life through attempts that encompass both art and design.
From Everyday Objects to Artworks: The Creation of the ‘Body Table’ Series
The Warning of Colors: Art Inspired by Borderline Hues
Cultural Identity and Artistic Expression: The Journey of Immigrant Woman Artist Mooa Kang
Body Movement, 2023, oriental powder pigment on wood, 60 x 60 x 5 cm
Artist Mooa Kang actively showcases works using various media, including painting, sculpture, furniture, and textiles, based on traditional Eastern painting. She reinterprets the curvilinear, organic images commonly found in nature and the human body, recreating them into vibrant, abstract scenes. Through this process, she explores variable and fluid identities.
Over a decade ago, Mooa encountered a wooden table in a dream. The table, elegantly supported by a woman's lower body, stood somewhere between an object and a human, exuding an effortless chicness. From that moment, tables of this theme have repeatedly appeared in her dreams. In one dream, the table was supported by three legs, like something between a human and a four-legged animal. Waking up to capture the essence of this magnificent table, she drew and wrote poetry. These drawings have since been transformed into her current works.
Body Table, 2019, oriental powder pigment on wood, 47 x 55 x 55 cm
Mooa's first solo exhibition in Seattle was held from June 20th to 23rd at Atelier Luer Showroom (5448 Shilshole Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107). This marked the artist's debut solo show in Seattle. The exhibition was praised for showcasing Mooa's expanding artistic realm, from traditional Korean painting to interior and exhibition design, as well as furniture.
"Table of Thoughts" was Mooa's third solo exhibition, reflecting the diverse identities and changes she experienced as an Asian woman immigrating from Korea to the United States. After graduating from Ewha Womans University with a degree in Eastern Painting and completing her graduate studies there, she pursued further education at the Rhode Island School of Design in 2020, majoring in Exhibition Design within the Interior Architecture department. Mooa's works express the influence of the natural environment, survival strategies as an Asian woman, and insights gained from Eastern painting and spatial design.
Artist Mooa Kang Lives and works in Seattle and Seoul
Artist Instagram: @mooamood
Education
2022 MDes Interior Architecture: Exhibition and Narrative Environments, Rhode Island School of Design, US
2020 MFA Korean Painting, Ewha Womans University, KR
2016 BFA Korean Painting, BA Television & Film, Ewha Womans University, KR
Solo Exhibitions
2019 A Collective Body, Ewha Art Gallery, Seoul, KR
2017 MooA MooD, Gallery Café Teum, Seoul, KR
Selected Group Exhibitions
2024 Gallery B612, Women. An Art Exhibition, Seattle, US
2024 Threshold of Wonder, Factoria Village, Bellevue, US
2023 Plantasia Home Lab / Passing by is no longer an option, Yuan Ru Gallery, Bellevue, US
2023 DESIGN WEEK RI: A Decade of Design in Rhode Island, Machines with Magnets Gallery, Providence, US
2023 Matrix Reclaimed, Fishbowl Gallery, Seattle, US
2022 Graduate Selections, Sol Koffler Gallery, Providence, US
2021 Adaptive Ecologies: Building on Nature’s Blueprint, ProvWash Gallery, Providence, US
2021 Textile Triennial, Woods-Gerry Gallery, Providence, US
2021 Continuous Flow, KOTE Gallery, Seoul, KR (Dotavi)
2020 Disappear, Punto Blu Gallery, Seoul, KR
2019 Body Expansion: BE, Ewha Art Center, Seoul, KR
2019 The 4th PASA Festival, Suwon Art Center, Suwon, KR (Dotavi)
2019 Hidden Bodies, Punto Blu Gallery, Seoul, KR (Dotavi)
2019 So Please Listen and Just Hear Me: Tracey Emin related exhibition, Horim Art Center, Seoul, KR (Dotavi)
2019 Art Peace 72, Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, KR
2019 Friendship Mentor Mentee, Hanwon Museum of Art, Seoul, KR
2018 UNTITLED, Pao Galleries, Hong Kong Arts Centre, HK
2018 9 Eyes, Space U, Seoul, KR
2018 15th Segment, Sewoon Space 15th, Seoul, KR
2018 Small is beautiful, Leehwaik Gallery, Seoul, KR
2014 Danwon Art Festival, Danwon Art Museum, Ansan, KR
Performance
2020 B∞ Leap: Silent Jump, Dotavi art director, Seoul 13 Gallery, Seoul, KR
2019 Break∞Build, Dotavi art director, Hyundai Motor Group ZER01NE Day Festival, Seoul, KR
Awards & Grants
2021 COVID-19 Record as art, Arts Council Korea, KR (Dotavi)
2021 Hyundai Motor Group X RISD Research Partnership Grant, US
2020 ART MUST GO ON, Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, KR (Dotavi)
2014 Danwon Art Prize, Danwon Art Museum, KR
Public Collections
National Library of Korea (Dotavi)
RISD Nature Lab
Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital
Photo Image: Left MiYoung Margolis / Right Mooa Kang
Women, An Art Exhibition at Gallery B612.
If you are curious about Mooa Kang's works, you can visit Gallery B612.
For any inquiries or further information, please contact the gallery at info@galleryb612.com.
It is recommended to make an appointment before your visit.
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