
ARARIO GALLERY SEOUL presents Discarded Host, a solo exhibition by KANG Cheolgyu, on view from 1 May to 20 June 2026.
KANG Cheolgyu has developed a body of work that transforms lived reality into an imagined painterly realm, drawing from personal experience and psychological sensations rooted in the inner self. Rather than directly depicting specific events, the artist concentrates on the moment when emotions and memories crystallize into visual form, composing psychological scenes in which anxiety, tension, and unfamiliar sensations quietly persist. By projecting the self onto figures and narratives situated within fictional environments, his paintings engage in an indirect confrontation with identity, constructing a visual narrative that reflects an ongoing process of personal transformation. Composed of new paintings, this presentation at ARARIO GALLERY SEOUL highlights a perceptual shift evident in KANG’s recent practice.\








ARARIO GALLERY SEOUL opened its doors in Sogyeok-dong in 2006. Since then, it has established its foothold as a leading contemporary art gallery in Korea and across Asia, continuing to be at the forefront of the international art scene through its efficient representation system and bold exhibitions. In March 2014, ARARIO GALLERY SEOUL relocated near the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. In April 2018, ARARIO GALLERY SEOUL RYSE HOTEL, a second exhibition space in Seoul, opened in the Hongdae area. Running concurrently with its primary location until November 2019, the project space aimed to mirror the experimental spirit of the neighbourhood through its innovative programming. In 2022, ARARIO GALLERY SEOUL ended its Sogyeok-dong era. However, the various experimentation and ventures carried out in the gallery’s previous spaces continue to shape its future at its current location in Wonseo-dong, which reopened in February 2023. Through the preemptive discovery of young artists, steady support of represented artists, and the realisation of meaningful and original exhibitions, ARARIO GALLERY SEOUL aims to continually grow and contribute to the growth of the contemporary art scene in Korea.

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