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。

「當我們大為謙卑的時候，便是我們最接近偉大的時候。（We come nearest to the great when we are great in humility）」這是曾獲諾貝爾文學獎的印度大文豪泰戈爾（Rabindranath Tagore）讓人耳熟能詳的名句。他周遊列國，與徐悲鴻、譚雲山為友，對促進東西文化最落力，描寫也最為細膩，甚至影響中國一代詩風。個半世紀後，泰戈爾對文化融通的深層視野仍然像基因遺傳在第五代子孫 Sundaram Tagore 的血液裏。「當我曾曾祖父拿到諾貝爾文學獎後，把獎金都捐到大學去，他深信人道主義（humanity）而非民族主義（nationalism）會令世界變好。我也深受影響，藝術不是商品也不只講求美輪美奐，最重要是有沒有達到歷史解碼的功能。」Sundaram Tagore這印度大文豪之後如是說。他更侃侃而談「文化衝擊」作為自己收藏和經營事業的單一準則與品味。

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.