Upcoming Exhibition

The Columns Gallery Korea is pleased to present Kim Kang Yong at the 12th edition of Asia NOW Paris, held at the Monnaie de Paris from 20–24 October 2026, with a preview on 19 October.

Reality + Image, 2026, 145 x 224 cm, Oil, sand and ground stone on board

Through his acclaimed Reality + Image series, Kim explores the boundaries between illusion and reality. His new paintings depict colourful blocks with gently curved surfaces and softened contours, creating a striking sense of depth through light, shadow, texture, and perspective. These seemingly solid forms invite viewers to question the relationship between what they see and what is physically present.

Reality + Image, 2026, 166 x 125 cm, Oil, sand and ground stone on board

Using materials including oil, sand, and ground stone, Kim creates highly tactile surfaces that challenge the viewer’s perception of what is real and what is represented. His practice brings together rigorous technique, material experimentation, and a sustained investigation into perception developed over several decades.

For Asia NOW Paris 2026, The Columns Gallery will present a focused selection of Kim Kang Yong’s newest works from the Reality + Image series. In these recent paintings, Kim introduces a brighter and more varied palette while further developing his illusionistic arrangements of projecting blocks. The works create a striking tension between surface and depth, continuing his long-standing exploration of perception, materiality, and the shifting boundary between reality and image.