Current Exhibition

Jaeyoun Shin (b.1987)
Breathin I-IV (2024)
Colour Pencils and Silver Pen on Black Paper
21cm x 29.7cm
$550AUD (each)



 Find Out More About This Work



Contact Us
About Us
Join our Newsletter
GRIM PARK (b. 1987)
MSQ Diptychs (2021)
Traditional Korean Paint on Silk
9.5cm X 39cm (each)



The MSQ series of works deal with the artist’s struggles with self-love as well as his ongoing desire to break down Korean society’s prejudices around gay men and how they are depicted and perceived by society.

“Having lived as a gay man I suffered from negative narcissism—there were the physical changes I didn't like that began in my adolescence and then others belittled my appearance. I lost confidence and even began to hurt my face.

Around that time, social media took off and I got to meet people who are the same as me. They proudly showed off their beauty and shared their fancies and lifestyles. I looked up to them for their unapologetic display of who they are, which is something I had always tried to hide.

My work deals with that. I try to own the beauty of self-love that I don't have myself, through my paintings.”

The exquisitely rendered diptychs that make up MSQ are painted in the traditional Taenghwa (탱화) style on silk and combine Buddhist painting motifs with contemporary and queer sensibilities. The works depict the eyes of the men Park featured in his famed Hwarangdo series, prominent men from the Korean gay scene and the same men who Park looked up to during his own process of self-discovery.

By only focusing on the eyes and removing all other accoutrement (as well as presenting the diptychs as literal equal signs “=”) Park is commenting on the fact that despite how these men may present themselves publicly, they too suffer from the same fears and worries he faced. While at the same time, by presenting the work this way, Park is challenging society to see past the surface, to reflect on how they look at these men (and people in general) seeing them as equals and acknowledging them for who they are and how they feel, not necessarily judging them on how they present or express themselves.

As well as containing subtle rainbow motifs, the lower panel of the diptychs feature traditional Korean painting elements infused with hints that relate to the subject’s life and their forms and modes of expression.

The interior of the A.SINGLE.PIECE gallery contains an installation which challenges viewers to consider how they look at the people they meet and themselves. This exhibition has been mounted with help from THEO Gallery in Seoul, South Korea.

We are presenting four works from the MSQ series as part of this exhibition. Dimensions and materials are the same for all.

GRIM PARK CV

Park was born in Seoul in 1987 and completed a BFA, majoring in Buddhist painting, at Dongguk University. He has exhibited extensively throughout Korea and recently had a solo presentation at Untitled Miami Beach through THEO Gallery.

This artwork is also available through Art Money
.




Grim Park (b. 1987)
MSQ50616 Diptych (2021)
Traditional Korean Paint on Silk
9.5cm X 39cm (each)

Grim Park (b. 1987)
MSQ35 Diptych (2021)
Traditional Korean Paint on Silk
9.5cm X 39cm (each)


Grim Park (b. 1987)
MSQ45936 Diptych (2021)
Traditional Korean Paint on Silk
9.5cm X 39cm (each)

Grim Park (b. 1987)
MSQ99 Diptych (2021)
Traditional Korean Paint on Silk
9.5cm X 39cm (each)