Hoyoon Shin
Hoyoon Shin (b. 1975, Seoul) is a renowned Korean artist whose meticulous sculptures explore the intersection of materiality and spirituality. Known for his delicate use of materials such as paper, metal, and plastic, Hoyoon's works delve into the essence of both Eastern and Western figures, from the Guanyin to Michelangelo's David. His art is characterized by the tension between light and shadow, solid and void, softness and hardness—reflecting a complex network of ideas rooted in Taoist philosophy.
Throughout his career, Hoyoon has sought to transcend the physicality of his media, creating sculptures that appear to shift and dissolve as the viewer’s perspective changes. His recent works in stainless steel juxtapose the coldness of metal with the warmth and purity of childhood, invoking feelings of innocence and awe. This exploration of contrasts, akin to the alchemical transformation of materials, is central to his artistic inquiry into human development and the essence of being.
Hoyoon’s works have been exhibited internationally, with showcases at Swatch Faces (held alongside the Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy, 2022), Salon des Beaux-Arts (Paris, France, 2017), Shanghai International Paper Art Festival (Shanghai, China, 2017), Kobe Biennale (Kobe, Japan, 2013). His sculptures are held in collections such as the Seoul Museum of Art and the Gwangju Museum of Art, Korea, the National Gallery Bankok, Thailand, National Art Gallery Sofia, Bulgaria and the Swatch Group, Switzerlands , among others.
EDUCATION
2020 BA in Contemporary Plastic Media, Chosun Univ., Gwangju, KR
RESIDENCIES
2018–2019 Shanghai Swatch Art Peace Hotel Residency Program, Shanghai, CN
2012 Beijing Residency of Gwangju Museum of Art, Beijing, CN
2005 Gwangju Museum of Art Studio for Creative Activity, Gwangju, KR
AWARDS
2018 Lucca Paper Biennale 'Lifetime Achievement Award,' Lucca, IT
2017 Silver Medal, Salon Des Beaux Arts 2017, Paris, FR
2016 Gold Prize, Shanghai International Print Week, Shanghai, CN
2015 Grand Prize, Shinsegye Art Awards, Gwangju, KR
2012 Grand Prize, Republic of Korea Paper Art Contest, Seoul, KR
2011 11th Ha Jung-Woong Young Artist Invitation, Gwangju, KR
2002 Special Prize, Busan Biennale, Sea Art Festival, Busan, KR
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023 "Matter of Essence," AAW, Busan, KR
2022 "In the Mask," AAW, Busan, KR
2019 "Visualized Sound," Shinsegye Gallery, Gwangju, KR
2018 "Layer," Wonju Hanji Theme Park, Wonju, KR
2017 "Island of Paramita," Gwangju Museum of Art, Gwangju, KR
2014 "Eart for the King," Siam Paragon, Bangkok, TH
2013 "There is No Essence," Artery, Bangkok, TH
2012 "Island," Unit One, 798 Art District, Beijing, CN
2011 "There is No Essence," Gwangju, KR
2007 "Strange Flowers: Secret Factory Vol.02," Gwangju, KR
2005 "Secret Factory Vol.01," Gwangju, KR
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 Art Jakarta, Jakarta, ID
2022 "The Milk of Dreams," Swatch Faces, Biennale Arte, Venice, IT
2020 "UP: Contemporary Sculpture Exhibition," Shangfang Art Museum, Beijing, CN
2019 "L'Archeologia D'arte," National Archaeological Museum, Naples, IT
2019 "The Splendid Languages of Paper," Zhejiang Museum, Hangzhou, CN
2018 "9th Lucca Paper Biennale," Lucca, IT
2018 "Paper Moon," Contemporary Art Museum of Crete, GR
2017 "Salon Des Beaux Arts 2017," Carrousel du Louvre, Paris, FR
2017 "Shanghai International Paper Art Festival," Shanghai, CN
2017 "Cheongju International Craft Biennale," Cheongju, KR
2017 "Revelations- International Fine Craft & Creation Biennial," Grand Palais, Paris, FR
2017 "NEW AXIS," Wuhan CBD Oceanwide International Sculpture Art Festival, Wuhan, CN
2016 "Life in Between Delight and Discomfort," Gwangju Museum of Art, Gwangju, KR
2016 "Shanghai International Print Week," Shanghai New International Expo Center, Shanghai, CN
2015 "Chongqing Biennale," Sichuan Art Museum, Chongqing, CN
2015 "Art NOVA 100," Nong Zhang Guan, Beijing, CN
2015 "Paper Monologue," Seoul Tech Museum of Art, Seoul, KR
2014 "Begin to Reason," Numtong Gallery, Bangkok, TH
2013 "Kobe Biennale," Meriken Park, Kobe, JP
2013 "Korean Contemporary," Schultz Gallery, Berlin, DE
2013 "All About Korea," White Box, Munich, DE
2012 "Media Variegations," AAW, 798, Beijing, CN
2012 "Mudeung Tales," Today Art Museum, Beijing, CN
2011 "Luggage-2nd Bangkok Asia Young Artist Festival," Artery, Bangkok, TH
2011 "Ha Jung Woong Young Artist Invitation," Gwangju Museum of Art, Gwangju, KR
2011 "1st Sofia International Paper Art Biennial," National Art Gallery, Sofia, BG
COLLECTIONS
Seoul Museum of Art, KR, Gwangju Museum of Art, KR, Jongienara Paper Art Museum, KR, Republic of Korea Parliament House, KR, Chosun University Museum of Art, KR, Doseonsa Temple, KR, National Gallery Bankok, TH, Sofia National Art Gallery, BG and corporate collections such as Swatch Group, CH, Lester Marks Collection, USA, Jeonnam Science & Technology Promotion Center, KR, Jianye Housing Group Co. Ltd., CN among others.