Art Exhibition

Gong Byung

Density of Emptiness, Light of Presence

Curated by Paris Suechung Koh

Dates: April 13-25, 2026
Opening Reception: Friday, April 17, from 6-8 PM


Gong Byung's work represents a groundbreaking approach in contemporary art, transforming industrial acrylic sheets into a medium of extraordinary sculptural and pictorial expression. While acrylic has long been considered a utilitarian industrial material, Gong Byung reimagines it as a vibrant canvas for artistic exploration. Through meticulous carving, engraving, and layering, he reveals intricate patterns and images that challenge conventional boundaries between sculpture and painting.

His practice is defined by a delicate interplay between absence and presence, void and fullness. Using precise tools--chisels, grinders, and other instruments--he carves into the acrylic's surface, creating patterns reminiscent of blossoming flowers, falling raindrops, spiral galaxies, or dense constellations of points and lines. The transparency of acrylic allows these carvings to interact with light, producing visual illusions where recessed areas appear raised and flat surfaces gain dimensional depth. This luminous quality magnifies the sculptural impact, turning the act of removal into a process of creation.

Gong Byung's recent works further explore color through the application of automotive paints and specialty coatings. By combining painting and carving techniques, he amplifies the visual richness of his compositions while preserving the acrylic's inherent clarity and brilliance. The result is a multisensory experience in which texture, light, and color converge, inviting viewers to engage deeply with the materiality and ethereal quality of his work.

The artist describes his practice as a meditation on cycles of creation and dissolution, emptiness and fullness, life and death. His work captures the fleeting yet persistent traces of existence, connecting the physical act of carving to the spiritual dimension of the universe. Through these transformations, Gong Byung elevates industrial materials to new heights, offering audiences a profound encounter with form, light, and imagination.

Gong Byung, a graduate of the Department of Sculpture at Hongik University College of Fine Arts, is based in South Korea and actively participates in both solo and group exhibitions, domestically and internationally. His works are held in major institutions, including the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art's Art Bank. This is his first solo exhibition in New York, and in September, a new solo show of his latest works is scheduled in Chelsea, New York.



For More Information: Tenri Cultural Institute, 212-645-2800 Curator Paris Suechung Koh, pariskoh@gmail.com, 201-724-7077

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