Bae Yoon Hwan's 'Deep Diver' exhibition at Space K features large-scale figurative paintings of mining and fishing.

At Space K in Seoul, Bae Yoon Hwan's exhibition 'Deep Diver' showcases expansive figurative artworks that illustrate extractive industries such as mining and fishing. Among the featured pieces is 'We're Good' (2025), a ten-meter oilstick painting in black and white that captures miners in a tight, oppressive setting. Another notable work, 'Cradle' (2025), depicts a humpback whale menacing a fishing boat. Many of the paintings are set against dark backgrounds, enhanced with glowing highlights that evoke etchings or starry skies. Bae draws inspiration from art history, referencing figures like William Hogarth, Kuniyoshi, Francisco Goya's 'Los Caprichos' (1797–98), Francis Bacon, and Henri Matisse. The exhibition also presents a sculpture composed of stacked items such as plush toys and papier-mâché figures on wooden crates. 'Untitled' (2025) features miners and sailors navigating a coracle while balancing tangerine segments on their heads, a nod to Bae's home on Jeju Island. This exhibition is open until 9 November 2025 and was highlighted in the November 2025 edition of ArtReview.