Hidden Anxiety Behind Cheerfulness: Kim Tae-hyeop Solo Exhibition ‘Complexity’
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
At the Noh Gallery in Insa-dong, Seoul, artist Kim Tae-hyeop’s solo show “Complexity” presents about 20 paintings (including new works) that explore layered emotions—joy, fatigue, hope and anxiety—coexisting in a single frame. Using comic-like lines, bold colors, and playful characters, Kim personifies feelings with motifs like smiling flowers and shimmering eyes; the bright, cheerful imagery acts as both a protective mask and an emotional device. The exhibition captures the “vibration of identity” in everyday social relationships and has drawn attention from young collectors. Kim describes laughter as a survival strategy—an act that can both cover anxiety and help endure complexity. The show runs through December 10 at Noh Gallery in Insa-dong (a traditional gallery district in Seoul).
