Kim Joon (Seoul, 1966) is a South-Korean artist active in Seoul. His work is the result of a sophisticated knowledge of 3D computer graphics with which the artist reconstructs human bodies or fragments of them, on which he "tattooed" indistinctly traditional decorative motifs of his country as well as logos of luxury brands such as Armani, Lamborghini, Gucci or BMW.
Kim Joon was born in 1966 in Seoul, where he still lives and works.
He attended Hongik University, an art school in spite of his father’s disapproval. After a period spent in the army, he became a visual artist.
In the 90s he started to focus on tattoo as backbone theme of his art. At first he used three-dimensional sculpture, then he started using digital technique like the 3D Studio Max software, shifting the tattoos on virtual bodies and considering the computer screen as an extension of the canvas.
The interest for tattoos derives from his mandatory military during which he tattoed his fellow servicemen.
In Kim Joon’s eye tattoos, a practice still illegal in Korea, are a way to express the subconscious. They display in daylight our hidden desires induced by materialism and collective ideologies. In Kim Joon’s opinion our consumerist society makes us want to buy and own things so much that in the end they almost pervade us.
Moreover the artist is fascinated by the duplicity of tattoo, historically they have been used to decorate or to create a sense of inclusivity or, on the other hand, they have also been used as a punishment to mark those who have to be excluded by their peers.
Kim Joon took part to several exhibits all over the world, from New York to Tokyo, from Paris to Hong Kong.
In 2012 Art Radar included him in the list top ten most-searched Asian contemporary artists on the internet.
He also teached at Kongju University, Department of Cartoon and Animation.
Kim Joon, Musee Magnelli, Vallauris, France
Kim Joon Crashing, Waterfall gallery, New York, USA
Kim Joon, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Hong Kong
Somebody, Park Rue, Sook Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
Somebody, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York, USA
Moutai, Space Can, Beijing, China
Island, Gallery Leebae, Busan, South Korea
Blue jean blues, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York, USA
Blue jean blues, Art Link, Seoul, South Korea
Fragile, Canvas International Art, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Fragile, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Hong Kong
Drunken, Artlink Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
Fragile, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York, USA
Fragile, Art Link, Seoul, South Korea
Tattoo & taboo, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Beverly Hills, USA
Tattoo & taboo, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Hong Kong
Kim Joon, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York, USA
Bird land, Sabina Lee Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
Kim Joon, Boxart Gallery, Verona, Italy
Duet et Party, Galerie Bertin, Paris, France
Duet et Party, Galerie Bertin, Miami, USA
Stay, Space 355, Tokyo, Japan
Party, Touch Art, Heiri, South Korea
Duet, Canvas International Art Gallery, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Tattoo You, Walsh Gallery, Chicago, USA
Flesh Park, June & TTL Zone, Seoul, South Korea
Saunabell, Ilju Art Hause, Seoul, South Korea
Make me smile!, Gallery Wooduck, Seoul, South Korea
Fire, Total Museum, Jangheung, South Korea
Hair show, Gallery Sal, Seoul, South Korea
Tattoo in my mind, Keumho Museum, Seoul, South Korea
Tattoo, Segye Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
I love it, Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, USA
I love it!, Insa Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
3rd International Digtal Art Biennial, Arsenal Art Contemporain, Montréal, Canada
Frontiers Reimagined, Giovanna Damiani, Venice, Italy
My Blue China, Manufacture Bernardaud, Limoges, France
Fermented Souls, Kateshin Gallery, New York, USA
2015 Gyeonggi International Ceramic Biennale, Korea Ceramic Foundation, Incheon, South Korea
Tattoo, Brandts, Denmark
The 3th Jakarta Contemporary Ceramics Biennale, Indonesia National Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
I was, therefore I am, Sydney CBD, Sydney, Australia
Walking on the Runway, Cube Museum, Bundang, South Korea
Inauguration, Opiom Gallery, Cannes, France
Thoughts on Body, Soma Museum, Seoul, South Korea
The Power of Photography, Trunk Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
Media Art 2012, Gwangju, South Korea
Irrepressible, Seoul, South Korea
Contemporary Korean Video Art, Hackney Picturehouse, London, UK
Korean Art since the 1990's, Gwangju Museum of Art, Gwangju, South Korea
Constrellation, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York, USA
Art Miami 2011, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Miami, USA
Paranoid Scene, Interalia, Seoul, South Korea
Asia Top Gallery Hotel Art Fair, Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
Daegu Photo Biennale 2010, Art center, Daegu, South Korea
Indaf2010, Mobile Art, Incheon, South Korea
Everytime When I Look Around, Art Center, Taiwan
30th Anniversary of The Young Korean Artist, National Museum of Contemporary Art Korea, Kuachun, South Korea
Printemps Perfume, Centre des Arts, Paris, France
3D Grand Illusion, Sabina Museum, Seoul, South Korea
Korean Eye, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
2009 Korean Contemporary Photo Now, 798space, Beijing, China
The Dream OF Davinch, Jeju Museum of Art, Jeju, South Korea
Magic of Photography, Museum of Photography, Seoul, South Korea
Come Join Us, Mr.Orwell, Art Center Nabi, Seoul, South Korea
Come Join Us, Mr.Orwell, Melbourne, Australia
Here & Now, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York, USA
Body speaks, Touch Art Gallery, Heiri, South Korea
Conditions of Being-as of now, Beijing, China
From Younhee Dong, YHD, Seoul, South Korea
Paris-Photo, Keumsan Gallery, Paris, France
Pop&Pop, Seongnam Art Center, Seongnam, South Korea
Scope Basel 08, Sun Contemporary, Basel, Switzerland
Border of Virtuality - Korean and Chinese Media Art Now, Han Ji Yun Contemporary Space, Beijing, China
Art HK08, Keumsan Gallery, Hong Kong
Photo...photo?, Sun Contemporary, Seoul, South Korea
Being Now, Gallery Soheon, Daegu, South Korea
World-beaters, Gallery Soheon, Daegu, South Korea
Asian Art Biennial, National Taiwan Museum, Taiwan
Ocultos, Fundacion Canal, Madrid, Spain
Field of life, California State University, Sacramento, USA
New Asian Waves, Zkm/Museum of Contemporary Art, Karlsruhe, Germany
Text in body space, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul, South Korea
Giant in illusion, Sejong Museum, Seoul, South Korea
Intermediae-Minbak, Matadero Madrid, Spain
Arco 2007, Gallery Hyundai, Spain
Paris Photo 2006, Gallery Hyundai, Paris, France
Made in Korea, Paris, Annecy, France
Hybrid trend-India & Korea, Hangaram Art Museum, Seoul, South Korea
Art & science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Spotlight 30 women, Paper Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2006 - Asia Art Now, SSamziespace, Seoul, South Korea
Softness, Soma Museum, Seoul, South Korea
ISEA 2006, South Hall, San Jose, USA
Art/37/Basel, Gallery Hyundai, Basel, Switzerland
Contemporary Asian Art, Bonhams, London, UK
KunstRAI/Art Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Endless Clone, Space Leum, Beijing, China
Winter-fly, Sk T-Tower, Seoul, South Korea
Toronto International Art Fair, Toronto, Canada
Art Cologne 2005, Cologne, Germany
Art Forum Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Asia: the place to be?, Alexander Ochs Galleries, Berlin, Germany
Inked, Walsh Gallery, Chicago, USA
Reeling 15 Years, Savina Museum, Seoul, South Korea
Out of Window, Jip Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
Senef 2004 Online Film Festival, Seoul, South Korea
Minority, Kwangju Biennial, Kwangju, South Korea
Resfest Digital Film Festival, Seoul, South Korea
Korean Tattoo Shop, Artinus, Seoul, South Korea
Korean Video Art Today, Walsh Gallery, Chicago, USA
Exhibition of the artists of Seoul in France, Artitude Galleries, Paris, France
Out of Window, Tokyo, Japan
Scar, Kwangju Biennale, Kwangju, South Korea
Body as Text, Keumho Museum, Seoul, South Korea
Young Venture, National Museum, Kwachun, South Korea
Asia Pacific Triennale, Queensland Art Gallery, Australia
Seoul International Art Fair, KOEX, Seoul, South Korea