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Sang Woo Kim's Double Consciousness: Painting the Gaze at Art Basel Hong Kong

artist · 2026-06-30

Sang Woo Kim, a Korean-born artist raised in London, is preparing for his first solo presentation in Asia with Herald St at Art Basel Hong Kong. His work explores the gaze as an event where perception, projection, and power overlap, drawing on his experiences of racialization and modeling. Central motifs include eyes and fragmented skin, rendered through painting, installation, and pigment dye transfers. Kim's practice repoliticizes the figure in response to digital and cultural upheavals. He references W.E.B. Du Bois's concept of 'double consciousness' and Frantz Fanon's account of the racialized body. Kim aims to exhibit in Korea next, curious about how different backgrounds will read his work.

Key facts

  • Sang Woo Kim has a solo booth with Herald St at Art Basel Hong Kong.
  • This is his first solo presentation in Asia.
  • Kim's practice includes painting, installation, and pigment dye transfers.
  • Eyes are a central recurring element in his recent works.
  • He first became known for self-portraits.
  • His work engages with double consciousness as described by W.E.B. Du Bois.
  • He also references Frantz Fanon's account of the racialized body.
  • Kim was born in Seoul and raised in a Korean household in London.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • Herald St
  • Art Basel Hong Kong

Locations

  • Hackney
  • London
  • United Kingdom
  • Seoul
  • South Korea
  • Asia
  • Hong Kong
  • China

Sources