Kim Joon

South Korea is finally being recognised as one of Asia's leading creative powerhouses by the international art world.

The immediate fascination with works by Korean digital artist Kim Joon is its ready familiarity, even as it is far from the quotidian, but edgily surreal and disturbing.

Sundaram Tagore 位於半山的大宅，猶如小型藝術館,當中有畫作、雕塑、在屋內各據一方，藝術家來自世界各地，以藝術創作展開跨越時空的文化對話。他已大半生的時間收藏藝術品，有籍藝術作品認識各地文化，由此為人生帶來最大的快樂。

「当我们大为谦卑的时候，便是我们最接近伟大的时候。（We come nearest to the great when we are great in humility）」这是曾获诺贝尔文学奖的印度大文豪泰戈尔（Rabindranath Tagore）让人耳熟能详的名句。他周游列国，与徐悲鸿、谭云山为友，对促进东西文化最落力，描写也最为细腻，甚至影响中国一代诗风。个半世纪后，泰戈尔对文化融通的深层视野仍然像基因遗传在第五代子孙Sundaram Tagore 的血液里。 「当我曾曾祖父拿到诺贝尔文学奖后，把奖金都捐到大学去，他深信人道主义（humanity）而非民族主义（nationalism）会令世界变好。我也深受影响，艺术不是商品也不只讲求美轮美奂，最重要是有没有达到历史解码的功能。」Sundaram Tagore这印度大文豪之后如是说。他更侃侃而谈「文化冲击」作为自己收藏和经营事业的单一准则与品味。

Sundaram Tagore Gallery has been named one of the top galleries in the world by Blouin Artinfo and Modern Painters magazine.

Visual artists are not only dropping tattoo imagery and techniques into their art, but are also gaining mainstream exposure for it.

Sundaram Tagore has put together a dynamic selection of art work by bringing Kim Joon and Sebastian Salgado to India.

Established in 2000 in New York and with branches in Beverly Hills and Hong Kong, Sundaram Tagore Gallery was the first international gallery to open in Hong Kong.

Sundaram Tagore Gallery will present a group exhibition, "Facing East’, of works that transcend cultural boundaries while reflecting Eastern elements. The show represents artists of Korean, Indian, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Uzbeki-Israeli origins. These works define an aesthetic language of East-West dialogue, featuring artists Kim Joon, Nathan Slate Joseph, Sohan Qadri, Hiroshi Senju, Robert Yasuda, Nhat Tran, Amina Ahmed, and Taylor Kuffner. Through their works, these artists struggle to create a sense of beauty that is universal through a wide range of mediums.

For his second solo exhibition in Hong Kong, California-based American painter Lee Waisler presents a series of moving portraits of historical and contemporary figures. Having practiced abstraction for decades, Waisler returned to figuration full-force six years ago, making what he calls "dimensional portraits," combining strips of wood and blocks of color to create nuanced faces and figures.

"Art to humanity, like hope to life, is the purpose of being, the main cog of an apparatus; convincing eyes and souls that dreams exist to be shaped, desires to be fulfilled, taboos to be wrecked. In between political and commercial propaganda, some artists find their place amidst a realm of the non sequitur. Kim Joon is an artist of this kind. Ren Wan loses grip of herself amidst Kim Joon’s beguiling imagery. "

"Sundaram Tagore Gallery opened its doors in 2000 with a mission to foster the exchange of ideas between different cultures. With three locations in New York, Hong Kong and Beverly Hills, the stable of transnational artists straddles the terrain of east and west. The artists fail from such countries as India, Japan, Korea, , Uzbekistan, Mexico, Europe and America. The galleries have become known for cultural activities and collaborative events across the world."

"Korean artist Kim Joon has an enduring interest in hidden desires. Using animation photography Kim makes templates of three-dimensional human figures, which he then embellishes with bright tattoo designs. There is a striking visual quality to Kim's work that owes a great debt to his training as a painter."

Tattoos are taboo in Korea - but it's a Korean artist named Kim Joon that's become well versed in the art of body painting.

Korean artist Kim Joon explores the human skin as an extension of canvas and tattoos as a manifestation of human desire.

"Having exhibited widely across the world, this is Kim Joon's first solo exhibition in Hong Kong. The Korean artist uses digital printing techniques to superimpose images upon nude bodies, creating colorful body tattoos. When you look closer at the artworks, you discover that various luxury brands including Westwood and Ferragamo are embedded on the bodies."

"The Art section of Hong Kong International Art and Antiques Fair 2009 will feature exceptional works by celebrated artists in a diversity of artistic styles and media. Sundaram Tagore Gallery of New York, Beverly Hills and Hong Kong will show work that encourages a dialogue between the East and West. Featured artists include Hiroshi Senju(Japan), Sohan Qadri (India) and Kim Joon (Korea) along with Susan Weil (USA), Natvar Bhavsar (India)."

There is perhaps no greater indicator of changing tastes in London's contemporary art scene and the West's hunger for fresh cultural and artistic influences than the masses of people who came to witness the 'Korean Eye: Moon Generation' Exhibition, which showcases the finest contemporary Korean art at the renowned Saatchi Gallery in London.