Special Exhibition commemorating the 120th Year of Korean Immigration to the US: The Beautiful Journey

Hei Myung C. Hyun | Taeho Kang | SoMoon Kim

- Exhibition Title: Special Exhibition commemorating the 120th Year of Korean immigration to the US "The Beautiful Journey"

- Date: May 12(Friday) - June 2(Friday), 2023

- Opening Reception: Friday, May 12, 2023 / 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM

*Opening Register:Opening Register

- Gallery Open Hour: Monday - Friday : 10:00AM - 5:00PM

- Location: KCCLA Art Gallery (2nd Floor) / 5505 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036

- Exhibition Partnership: Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles (KCCLA) & Korean Artists Association of Southern California (KAASC)

- Artists: Hei Myung C. Hyun, Taeho Kang, SoMoon Kim

- More information: Tammy Cho at 323-936-3014

Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles (KCCLA, Director Sangwon Jung), in partnership with Korean Artists Association of Southern California (KAASC, President Vincent Minsook Yang), proudly presents the Special Exhibition commemorating the 120th Year of Korean immigration to the United States " The Beautiful Journey " which will open with a reception at the Korean Cultural Center Art Gallery (located at 5505 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036) from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. Friday, May 12.

The exhibition will present the 45 individual artworks of 1st generation of Korean American immigration artists, Hei Myung C. Hyun Tae Ho Kang, and SoMoon Kim which collectively commemorate the 120th Year of Korean immigration to the United States.

Hei Myung C. Hyun was born in Seoul, Korea in 1943, graduated from Seoul National University's College of Fine Arts, and won two special awards at the Korean Art National Competition. She moved to the US in 1966, studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and earned an MFA from Hartford University. After moving to Los Angeles in 1973, she has continued to engage in art activities for over 50 years in the mainstream and Korean-American art communities, holding numerous solo and group exhibitions, and her work has been featured in The New York Times. Hyun has focused on creating works that celebrate the mystery of nature and capturing contemplation in various styles. She hopes to remain as an ever-changing figure to the public. Her works depict the harmonious coexistence of tradition and modernity with powerful and natural brushstrokes like ink paintings, pursuing harmony between the two worlds by replacing the vitality of nature with the geometric background of a meticulously calculated modern sense.

Taeho Kang was born in Seoul, Korea in 1945 and studied ceramics at the College of Arts Hongik University in Seoul. Kang continued his art education studying Fine Art at California State University, Los Angeles, where he graduated in 1980. He has been active in various art careers in the US art community, and his works have often appeared on major TV programs such as ABC's Criminal Minds/American Wife, CBS's NCIS LA, and Warner's Unforgettable. Since 1978, Kang has been participating in numerous solo and group exhibitions as well as art fairs throughout the US and internationally. His artworks have been acquired by private collectors around the world. He believes in the original form of life between the existence and non-existence of all phenomena in nature. The work of figuring out "accumulated time" or "archaeological time" always gives him anticipation and excitement.

SoMoon Kim was born in Buyeo, Korea in 1946, graduated from Seoul Arts High School, and KyungHee University. After immigrating to the United States in 1974, he traveled back and forth between LA, New York, and Korea, actively engaging in an artistic career. His representative works include the "Motherhood Love Series," which applies the techniques of Eastern traditional ink painting and calligraphy while harmonizing Western styles using acrylics on canvas as well as traditional Korean paper. His unique artwork world, which combines his own developed pictographs and visual languages, has attracted attention. The theme of his works is his mother's unwavering love, which he believes only a mother's love can make the world peaceful and save it from confusion and sin.

This exhibition is organized by the Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles (KCCLA), and the Korean Artists Association of Southern California (KAASC).

The exhibition is open to the public and the show will run until June 2nd, 2023.