Ki Yoong

Overview
Ki Yoong

"My work is about people; how we view ourselves and how we view others. There are an infinite number of people in this world, each and every one different, all wanting different things, all deciding who we are". - Ki Yoong

Ki Yoong’s highly-detailed, delicately rendered and undeniably beautiful portraits celebrate the uniqueness of every face, focussing on it as the primary conduit of emotion and identity, while seeking to challenge the assumed relationship between the observer and the observed. 
 
The tenderness and care Yoong brings to his work, exemplified by his thoughtful compositions, intricate brushwork and bespoke framing, invites a sense of intimacy between the subject and the viewer; on observing his work, one feels they are in the presence of a cherished object that has been painstakingly and lovingly created. His deliberate foregoing of background detail in place of an intense and closely-cropped focus on the face, meanwhile, leaves much of the sitter’s story to the imagination. Confronted with the stillness of a face hanging elegantly in a room, one immediately wonders: Who are they? 
 
In this way, Ki carefully controls the viewer’s relationship with the subject. In the absence of context, the individual pictured exists almost like a mirror to the viewer - they automatically project their own assumptions, biases and experiences onto the face that stares back at them. The gap between what is seen and what is understood is thus filled by the complex tapestry of the viewer’s own life, history, desires and aspirations. In place of gaining insight into the subject as they observe, the viewer is therefore invited to learn more about themselves.
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Biography
Ki Yoong
Ki Yoong (b.1988) lives and works in London. He completed a BA in Fine Art at The University of Leeds, and an MFA in Fine Art at Central Saint Martins. In 2023, he presented his debut solo exhibition with Slugtown, Norwich. His work has been featured in group exhibitions by galleries including: Marlborough Gallery, London (2023); STUDIO WEST, London (2023) and Brooke Benington, London (2023) among others. He has collaborated with a variety of brands and institutions including Vogue, Alex Eagle, Paul Smith and The House of St Barnabas. He also works with schools and third-sector organisations across London teaching art.
Exhibitions
Works