AHN DOOJIN KOREA, 1975
Biography
Ahn Doo-jin (b. 1975) is a contemporary Korean artist whose practice blends conceptual inquiry with an intuitive visual language. Raised in Suwon, he earned his BFA (2002) and MFA (2006) in Painting from Hongik University, where he also completed his Ph.D. in 2023 with a dissertation titled “A Study of Painting in Imaquark’s Self-Generative Ways.”
Since his first solo exhibition in 2004, Ahn has presented 13 solo shows at venues such as Brain Factory, Project Space Sarubia Dabang, SongEun Art Space, Johyun Gallery, Ewha Womans University Gallery, and Mimesis Art Museum. He has also participated in numerous group and curated exhibitions at institutions including the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Korea), Seoul Museum of Art, Saatchi Gallery (London), and the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology (Milan).
Ahn’s early recognition came with the Emerging Artist Award at the Central Art Competition, and his work has continued to evolve around a core concept he calls Imaquark—a term combining “image” and “quark,” the smallest known particle in physics. Through this idea, he investigates the most fundamental units of visual expression, seeking to understand how images take shape through processes that minimize personal intervention.
His paintings are distinguished by bold color palettes, organic compositions, and a dynamic, unpredictable rhythm. Fragmented elements converge into cohesive wholes that feel both spontaneous and intentional, often evoking a quiet sense of order. These visual structures resonate with symbolic references drawn from a variety of religious and cultural traditions across Eastern and Western contexts.
Currently focused on painting, Ahn continues to explore how visual hierarchies emerge and dissolve in the act of making—ultimately proposing a way of seeing that is both analytical and deeply intuitive.
Works
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