Through the rich use of figurative and abstract elements, Beauford Delaney, Ken Gun Min, and Didier William create compositions that go far beyond sexual identity
Ken Gun Min: Blending Cultures
The methodology of using strong brushstrokes and rich colors in an expressive abstract manner as a vehicle for art inspired by identity is still prevalent today. Of course, the freedom for gay male artists today to depict their sexuality in their work as they please is far greater than what it was a century prior. However, as an approach to depicting multiple factors of identity, these recurrent themes continue to be utilized by artists. One example is Ken Gun Min, a contemporary Korean American artist known for his blending of cultural elements – having been raised in South Korea and now residing is Los Angeles – and stylistic elements, both figurative and abstract.
Ken Gun Min, Lake Lobster and Sunflower, 2023. Korean pearl pigment, embroidery, oil on canvas. Courtesy of the artist and Shulamit Nazarian
The resulting work is stunning visual storytelling that reflects his own experiences of cultural displacement and identity formation, as well as growth more generally, the processes of merging past and present and the growing into oneself. His paintings often combine traditional Korean aesthetics and mediums with modern abstract themes, culminating in captivating compositions that blur the lines between clear-cut and abstract representation. Min's work explores themes of memory, personal history, and the fluidity of cultural identity in all its definitions. Each piece feels incredibly personal to the artist, while still making use of the recurrent themes of bold brushwork, rich colors, and layered textures that create a sense of visual and emotional depth.
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