Greg Podgorski Contemporary Art welcomes you to Ung-Pil Byen's exhibition
In collaboration with Choi&Choi Galerie Seoul, GREG PODGORSKI CONTEMPORARY ART, Nyon is pleased to present: Ung-Pil Byen, a Korean artist born in 1970, explores themes of identity and universality through his portrait paintings. After completing a BA in Western painting at Dongguk University and an MFA at the Kunstakademie Münster, Byen initially focused on highly realistic but distorted self-portraits, reflecting his experience as a visible foreigner during his 11-year stay in Germany. His early works combined Western oil painting techniques with Eastern philosophies of omission, questioning the boundaries between self and other.
On his return to Korea, Byen's style evolved towards abstraction, creating conceptual portraits with simplified lines and colours that suggest universal ‘selves’ rather than specific individuals. This evolution reflects his transition from outsider to insider, moving from self-representation to a broader exploration of the human condition. His work invites viewers to project their own narratives, challenging prejudices and societal constructs.
Byen has held solo exhibitions, participated in over 100 group exhibitions and received numerous awards, including the DAAD Emerging Artist Grant. His work is held in numerous museums, including the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Korea (MMCA), as well as major public and private collections in Korea and Europe, and has been featured in textbooks and publications in Korea. Currently living and working in Incheon, South Korea, Byen continues to blend Western techniques with Eastern sensibilities, encouraging dialogue about identity, prejudice and human connections.
