The Facts
Thaddaeus Ropac presented Lee Kang So's painting "Serenity – 220609" (2022) as a highlight of its booth at Art Busan 2026. The work departs from the artist's signature monochrome palette, introducing diluted pink, orange, and yellow blooms in an all-over calligraphic abstraction. Lee began exploring color in the late 2010s, stating, "using colors of my preference makes the works subjective." The gallery features the piece within a presentation centered on expressive, gestural compositions.
The Signal
Lee Kang So's color shift signals a notable evolution for an artist long associated with restrained monochrome painting, a category with strong collector demand in the Korean and international markets. By showing this transitional work at a major Asian fair, Thaddaeus Ropac positions Lee for renewed attention from both established collectors of post-war Korean abstraction and a younger audience drawn to chromatic experimentation. The artist's stated emphasis on art as a co-created moment aligns with contemporary curatorial trends that foreground viewer engagement.
- Artists: Lee Kang So
- Galleries: Thaddaeus Ropac
- Locations: Busan
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