Let Me Grow

Kanghyun is a self-taught mixed media artist based in Meanjin (Brisbane). Raised in South Korea, Kanghyun grew up in poverty, and his early interest in art was consumed by a competitive and relentless society. After years of crafting surfboards and immersing himself in surf culture in both Australia and Korea, Kanghyun rediscovered art as a means of personal healing from trauma. His work probes themes of resilience and identity, and evokes a paradoxical rhythm - radical and spontaneous, yet gentle and compassionate - while blending raw textures with vibrant compositions. Through his evolving practice, he invites viewers into his complex, beautifully unique internal world, and communicates through his work a nuanced perspective of survival instincts and emotional depth.

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'Let Me Grow' is an abstract exploration of self-reconstruction through the lens of past and present. Confronting the depths of traumatic memories, I navigate the intricate process of healing and personal growth. This work symbolises the necessity of facing one's history to understand and evolve. It represents granting oneself permission to grow, embracing the complexities of identity shaped by both pain and resilience. Through this piece, I invite viewers to reflect on their own journeys of transformation.