b. 1987, South Korea

Grim Park Biography

Seoul artist Grim Park combines the format of traditional Korean Buddhist painting with modern social and queer sensibilities. Park was shortlisted for the 22nd SONGEUN Art Award in 2022.

Read More

Early Years

Park was born in Seoul, Korea, in 1987 and completed a BFA, majoring in Buddhist painting, at Dongguk University, Gyeongju, in 2016. He went on to create a number of taenghwa (Buddhist altarpieces) for Buddhist temples. During his studies he became aware that the conservative nature of the medium and its limitations meant that in its original form he could not express his true self and his gender identity.

Choosing to be open about his queer identity in his work, his early practice focused on stars of the gay community on social media and dating apps, depicted through traditional Korean painting.

Grim Park Artworks

Themes of self-reflection, self-transformation, reincarnation and inward and outward love, permeate through Grim Park's Goryeo period Buddhist-style paintings on silk and canvas. Queer themes are directly addressed within each work.

Taste of Bodhisattva

From 2015, Park began depicting queer men he viewed as attractive on social media and dating sites, using Buddhist silk-painting techniques traditionally employed to depict kings and great thinkers.

The figures in works such as Taste of Bodhisattva (2015), I Slay (2016) and The Thick (2018) are painted naturalistically, with elegant lines, a muted palette and detailed backgrounds that often feature patterns or plant life to make a closed, intimate composition. The images put their attractiveness on a pedestal, centre stage. As Park explained to Korea JoongAng Daily 'appearances tend to be taken seriously' in the Korean gay community.

Shimhodo

Initially Park developed a self-hatred fuelled by feelings of being unattractive by the standards of the gay community, which he overcame gradually by normalising conversations with the subjects he painted. The 'Shimhodo' series (2018) is a result of this journey of self-reflection and transformation.

Shimhodo translates to 'the painting of searching for a tiger', and derives from the Buddhist genre of Shimudo, or 'searching for an ox' paintings—an allegory of searching inwardly for one's true nature. Shimhodo – Chosen (2018) playfully teases the theme and narrative of the series; a ferocious but adorable-looking tiger, evocative of Joseon period imagery (1392–1910), is coddled; held between two androgynous Bodhisattva characters.

The tiger stands in for the ox as the artist's reincarnated persona uncovered on his own introspective journey of transformation. In Shimhodo – Amrita (2021), the tiger devours the heart of the artist's slain old self. The series visually references the Goryeo period style (918 to 1392), with elegant lines, fine details and a mystic luminosity achieved by painting both sides of the silk.

The metaphor of the Tiger for the artist's persona is carried through later series such as 'Zero-Cogitation-Samadhi Continuum', 'The Tiger of Perfect Wisdom' and 'X-Tail/Tale' (all 2022). Each deals with themes of self-awareness and love.

Holy Relics

In 2022 Grim Park began making a series of works, depicting various make-up and beauty items in the same manner as holy relics. Each of the items—lipstick, cushion compacts, brushes and nail polish—presents the tools for personal transformation in the eyes of the artist.

Awards and Accolades

Grim Park has received a number of awards for his art. In 2016, he was awarded the Special Selection from the Sorabol Art Award. In 2018 Park was Absolut Vodka Artist Awards Winner of Korea.

In 2022 he was included in a shortlist of 20 for the SONGEUN Art and Cultural Foundation's SONGEUN Art Award.

In 2023, Grim Park was announced as one of 13 artists chosen for the Korean Artists Abroad programme supported by Korea Arts Management Service.

Exhibitions

Grim Park has been the subject of both solo and group exhibitions.

Solo exhibitions include: Becoming a Tiger, Studio Concrete, Seoul (2022); CHAM; The Masquerade, Uartspace, Seoul (2021); Hwarangdo: a crowd of beautiful men, Bulil Museum, Seoul (2018).

Group exhibitions include: Redrawn World: Break and Continuity of Korean Painting, Ilmin Museum of Art, Seoul (2022); Scent of the Buddha, Dongduk Art Gallery, Seoul; Flags, Doosan Art Centre, Seoul (2019); By Light, By Wind, Bulil Museum, Seoul (2018).

Website and Instagram

Grim Park's website can be found here and Grim Park's Instagram can be found here.

Michael Irwin | Ocula | 2023

Grim Park
featured artworks

View 39 More
月劇 (Moon Play) by Grim Park contemporary artwork painting, textile
Grim Park 月劇 (Moon Play), 2024 Korean traditional paint on Silk
120 x 40 cm
THEO Contact Gallery
無尾 (Tailless) by Grim Park contemporary artwork painting
Grim Park 無尾 (Tailless), 2024 Korean traditional paint on Silk
120 x 40 cm
THEO Contact Gallery
虎流 (Tiger Flow) by Grim Park contemporary artwork painting
Grim Park 虎流 (Tiger Flow), 2024 Korean traditional paint on Silk
120 x 40 cm
Sold
THEO
日劇 (Sun Play) by Grim Park contemporary artwork painting
Grim Park 日劇 (Sun Play), 2024 Korean traditional paint on Silk
120 x 40 cm
THEO Contact Gallery
無二 (Zero two) by Grim Park contemporary artwork painting, textile
Grim Park 無二 (Zero two), 2024 Korean traditional paint on Silk
120 x 40 cm
Sold
THEO
春盖 (Spring Umbrella) by Grim Park contemporary artwork painting
Grim Park 春盖 (Spring Umbrella), 2024 Korean traditional paint on Silk
120 x 40 cm
THEO Contact Gallery
二揀 (Two mischief) by Grim Park contemporary artwork painting, textile
Grim Park 二揀 (Two mischief), 2024 Korean traditional paint on Silk
120 x 40 cm
THEO Contact Gallery
我謎 (Enigma) by Grim Park contemporary artwork painting
Grim Park 我謎 (Enigma), 2024 Korean traditional paint on Silk
120 x 40 cm
THEO Request Price & Availability
View 39 More

Grim Park
recent exhibitions

View 2 More
View 2 More

Represented by this
Ocula Member Gallery

THEO contemporary art gallery in THEO, Seoul, South Korea
THEO Seoul
View 2 More

Grim Park in
Ocula Magazine

Learn more about the market for works
by Grim Park.
Enquire for a confidential discussion. Enquire Now
Simon Fisher, Ocula CEO
Ocula Advisor
Simon Fisher
Christoper Taylor, Ocula Advisor
Ocula Advisor
Christopher Taylor
Eva Fuchs, Ocula Advisor
Ocula Advisor
Eva Fuchs
Rory Mitchell, Ocula Advisor
Ocula Advisor
Rory Mitchell

Grim Park in
video & audio

Ocula discover the best in contemporary art icon.
Follow Grim Park
Stay ahead.
Receive updates on new artworks,
exhibitions and articles.
Your personal data is held in accordance with our privacy policy.
Follow
Do you have an Ocula account?
Ocula discover the best in contemporary art icon.
Get Access
Join Ocula to request price and availability of artworks, exhibition price lists and build a collection of favourite artists, galleries and artworks.
Do you have an Ocula account? Login
What best describes your interest in art?

Subscribe to our newsletter for upcoming exhibitions, available works, events and more.
By clicking Sign Up or Continue with Facebook or Google, you agree to Ocula's Terms & Conditions. Your personal data is held in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Thank you for joining us. Just one more thing...
Soon you will receive an email asking you to complete registration. If you do not receive it then you can check and edit the email address you entered.
Close
Thank you for joining us.
You can now request price and availability of artworks, exhibition price lists and build a collection of favourite artists, galleries and artworks.
Close
Welcome back to Ocula
Enter your email address and password below to login.
Reset Password
Enter your email address to receive a password reset link.
Reset Link Sent
We have sent you an email containing a link to reset your password. Simply click the link and enter your new password to complete this process.
Login