Min-Woo Bang Painter
CV
Min-Woo Bang
Painter
Born in 1971, Seoul, South Korea. Lives and works in Sydney.
National Art School, D.F.A, 1991-1993
Sydney College of the Arts, Sydney University, B.V.A, 1994-1996
Sydney College of the Arts, Sydney University, Honours, 1997
Sydney College of the Arts, Sydney University, Master of Visual Arts, 1998-2000
Solo Exhibitions
2022 'Different Places', Manyung gallery in Malvern, Vic
2022 New Works, Wagner Contemporary, Sydney
2020 New Works, Linton & Kay Galleries, Subiaco, Perth WA
2020 Natural Impact, Wagner Contemporary, Sydney
2019 Chaotic Order, Manyung gallery, Malvern Vic
2018 'The immensity of Sky', Mitchell Fine Art, Brisbane, QLD
2018 High Land, Wagner Contemporary, Sydney
2017 'Natural World', Linton & Kay Galleries, Subiaco Perth WA
2016 'Storm in Paradise', Wagner Contemporary, Sydney
2015 'Sky Memoir II', Gallery One, Gold Coast, QLD
2015 'Sky Memoir', Linton & Kay galleries, Perth, WA
2014 Beyond the Landscape, Wagner Art Gallery, Sydney
2014 Beyond the Landscape, Melbourne Art Fair, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne
2013 Homage to Landscape, Wagner Art Gallery, Sydney
2013 "Homage to Landscape", Sydney Contemporary 13 Art Fair, Sydney
2013 "Feeling for the Landscape", Gallery One, Gold Coast, QLD
2013 'Feeling for the Landscape', Linton & Kay Galleries, WA
2012 "Revisit", Wagner art gallery, Sydney
2012 Mystic Landscape, Muk Muk Fine Art, Alice Springs & Darwin, NT
2011 'New Works by Min-Woo Bang' Gallery One, Southport, QLD
2011 'The shadow of light' Wagner art gallery, Sydney
2010 Mystic Landscapes II, Linton & Kay galleries, Perth, WA
2009 Mystic Landscapes, Wagner art gallery, Sydney
2008 'The Whisper of Trees' rex-livingston art dealer, Sydney
2007 'New beginnings' rex-livingston art dealer, Sydney
2006 'Landscape and Myth' rex-livingston art dealer, Sydney
2005 'Journey' rex-livingston art dealer, Sydney
2005 'Emerald City II' Washhouse Gallery, Sydney
2004 'Emerald City', TAP Gallery, Sydney
2001 'Landscapes', Campsie Central Library, Sydney
2000 'New Paintings' James Harvey Gallery, Sydney
1999 Self-Portrait in the Age of Appropriation (Feat. Lindy Lee), Gallery 4A, Sydney
1998 'Self-Portraits II', James Harvey Gallery, Sydney
1997 'Self-Portraits', James Harvey Gallery, Sydney
Awards & Finalist
2023 Finalist, KAAF art prize, Korea Cultural Centre in Sydney
2022 Finalist, John Leslie Art Prize, Gippsland Art Gallery, Vic
2021 Finalist, Paddington Art Prize, Sydney
2021 Finalist, Muswellbrook Art Prize, Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre, NSW
2020 Finalist, Blacktown City Art Prize, The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre
2020 Finalist, Byron Arts Magazine Art Prize, NRCG NSW (Winner of People's choice award)
2020 Finalist, John Leslie Art Prize, Gippsland Art Gallery, Vic
2020 Finalist, Muswellbrook Art Prize, Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre, NSW
2019 Finalist, KAAF Art Prize, Korean Cultural Centre in Sydney
2019 Finalist, Muswellbrook Art Prize, Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre, NSW
2018 Finalist, KAAF ART PRIZE, Korea Cultural Centre in Sydney (Winner of people's choice award)
2018 Finalist, Hadley Art Prize, Hadley Oriental Hotel, Hobart, Tasmania
2018 Finalist, Tattersall's Landscape Art Prize, Tattersall Club, QLD
2018 Finalist, King's School Art Prize, King's school, NSW
2018 Finalist, Muswellbrook Art Prize, Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre, NSW
2017 Finalist, KAAF Art Prize Finalists Exhibition, Korean Cultural Centre, Sydney
2017 Finalist, Tattersall's Club Landscape Art Prize, QLD
2017 Finalist, Muswellbrook Art Prize, Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre
2016 Finalist, KAAF Art Prize, Korean Cultural Centre in Sydney
2016 Finalist, Paddington Art Prize, Sydney
2016 Winner of Commendation Prize, Mosman Art Prize, Sydney
2016 Finalist, Tattersall's Club Landscape Art Prize, QLD
2016 Finalist, Sunshine Coast Art Prize, Caloundra Regional Gallery, QLD
2015 Finalist, KAAF Art Prize, Korean Cultural Centre Gallery, Sydney
2015 Finalist, Gold Coast Art Prize, Gold Coast City Gallery, QLD
2015 Finalist, Tattersall's Club Landscape art prize, Qld
2015 Finalist, Muswellbrook Art Prize (Open & Drawing sections), Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre, NSW
2014 Winner of Members choice award, KAAF Art Prize, Korean Cultural Office, Sydney
2014 Finalist, Fisher's Ghost Art Awards, Campbelltown Arts Centre
2014 Finalist, 25th Tattersall's Club Landscape Art Prize, Qld
2013 Finalist, 1st KAAF Art Prize, Korean Cultural Office, Sydney
2013 Finalist, Paddington Art Prize, Mary Place gallery, Sydney
2013 Finalist, The King's School Art Prize, The King's School, Sydney
2012 Finalist, Gold Coast Art Prize, Gold Coast City Art Gallery, QLD
2012 Finalist, Tattersall's Club Landscape Art Prize, Brisbane Qld
2012 Finalist, NSW Parliament Plein-air painting prize, NSW Parliament House
2012 Finalist, Albany Art Prize, Albany Town Hall, WA
2011 Finalist, Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery
2010 Finalist, The Stan and Maureen Duke Gold Coast Art Prize, Gold Coast City Art Gallery, QLD
2010 Finalist, The Wynne prize, The Art Gallery of NSW
2010 Finalist, The City of Albany Art Prize, the Vancouver Arts Centre, Albany, Western Australia.
2008 Finalist, The Paddington Art Prize, Mary Place gallery, Sydney
2008 Finalist, The City of Albany Art Prize, the Vancouver Arts Centre, Albany, Western Australia
2002 1st prize Winner of Campion Art Awards (Carnival Christi)
1997 Recipient of William Fletcher Trust Grants, AGNSW
1997 Winner of Chroma Australia Art Prize, SCA
1995 Winner of The Robert Le Gay Breton drawing prize, Art Gallery of NSW
1995 Winner of Dobell Foundation Scholarship, SCA
1994 Highly Commended Prize, Winsor & Newton Australian Awards 1994, The Art in Action Expo, Sydney
1993 Finalist, Winsor & Newton Australian Awards 1993, Willandra Art Gallery, Ryde NSW Sydney
1992 Winner of TAFE painting award, National Art School
1992 Winner of People's Choice Award, Waverley art prize, Sydney
Selected Group Exhibitions
2024 40by40 Project, Wagner Contemporary, Sydney
2023 'The Collectors Canvas' group exhibition, Manyung Gallery, Malvern, Vic
'Through my eyes' group exhibition, Mitchell Fine Art, Brisbane, Qld
2022 Finalist exhibition of John Leslie Art Prize, Gippsland Art Gallery, Vic
40 by 40 Project, Wagner Contemporary, Sydney
2021 Sydney Lunar New Year Lantern Festival, Horse Lanterns designed by Min-Woo Bang, produced by the City of Sydney
40by40 Project, Wagner Contemporary, Sydney
Secondary market - Collectable painting, Wagner Contemporary, Sydney
New Works 21, group exhibition, Aptos Cruz gallery, SA
Paddington Art Prize exhibition of National Finalists 2021, Sydney
2020 Sydney Lunar New Year Lantern Festival, Horse Lanterns designed by Min-Woo Bang, produced by the City of Sydney
Muswellbrook Art Prize Finalists exhibition, Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre, NSW
40by40 Project, Wagner Contemporary, Sydney
PRIMAVERAL' | GROUP EXHIBITION, 2nd September - 3rd October, Mitchell Fine Art, Brisbane Qld
BAM Art Prize finalists exhibition, NRCG, NSW
Blacktown City Art Prize, The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre
KAAF group exhibition, New Beginning, 29 Nov - 29 Jan 2021, Korea Australia Cultural Centre
2019 GIFTING, Penrith Regional Gallery, Home of the Lewers Bequest, 7 Sept to 17 November 2019
30th Tattersalls's Club Landscape art prize, Tattersalls's club, Brisbane, QLD
Muswellbrook Art Prize Finalists exhibition, Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre, NSW
KAAF art prize finalists exhibition, Korea Cultural Centre, Sydney
2018 Hadley's Art Prize finalists exhibition, Hadley's Oriental Hotel, Hobart, Tasmania
The Best of the Best, Gallery One, QLD
Finalists exhibition, Muswellbrook Art Prize, Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre, NSW
Director's Choice show, Mitchell Fine Art, QLD
Summer Show, Wagner Contemporary, Sydney
The King's Art Prize, King's School, Sydney
KAAF art prize finalists exhibition, Korea Cultural Centre, Sydney
2017 40 by 40 Project, Wagner Contemporary, Sydney
Muswellbrook Art Prize, Muswellbrook Reginal Arts Centre, NSW
Director's Choice, Mitchell Fine Art, Brisbane.
2016 Paddington Art Prize finalist exhibition, Sydney
Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney
Tattersall's Club Landscape Art Prize, QLD
Sunshine Coast Art Prize, Caloundra Regional Gallery, QLD
90th Years Celebration of St Gregory's College Art Show
20 by 20 Group show, Gallery Klei, Sydney
TwentyTwenty, Chinese New Year Group show, curated by Claudia Chan Shaw, Kensington Contemporary, Sydney
2015 KAAF Art Prize, Korean Cultural Centre Gallery, Sydney
Gold Coast Art Prize Finalist show, Gold Coast City Art Gallery, QLD
'Crafted light', group show, Aptos Cruz Galleries, SA
Mitchell Fine Art (Sofitel Hotel), Brisbane, QLD
'Works on paper', Manyung Galleries, Vic
'43rd Muswellbrook Art Prize', Muswellbrook Reginal Arts Centre, NSW
Australian & Korean artists Exhibition, 'Uncertain Paradise', Imazoo Gallery, Seoul, Korea , 3 July -21 July
Art from Australia, Gail Art Museum, South Korea, 26 August ~ 14 October
Tattersall Club Landscape Art Prize, QLD
Art and Culture- Beyond the Surroundings, 13 August - 11 September, Korean Cultural Centre, Sydney
2014 Crossing Boundaries, Asian Australian art exhibition, Sydney Town Hall
Artists Residency at Sir Anthony Mason Chambers, Sydney
DRAWING show, A FUNDAMENTAL LIBERATION IV, Wagner art gallery
Fisher's Ghost Art Awards, Campbelltown Arts Centre, NSW
The 25th Tattersall's Club Landscape Art Prize, Qld
KAAF Art Prize Finalists exhibition, Korean Cultural Office, Sydney
2013 1st Sydney Contemporary 13 Art Fair, Carriageworks, Sydney
Small Images/ Grand Vision 40x40 group show, Wagner art gallery, Sydney
Seattle Affordable art fair, Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, Seattle
1st KAAF art prize exhibition, Korean Cultural office, Sydney
Paddington Art Prize finalists exhibition, Mary Place gallery, Sydney
Snake Snake Snake- A Celebration of Asian Australian Art Exhibition, Sydney Town Hall
Luxury collection launch at Bird in Hand Winery gallery, SA
The King's art prize, The King's School, Sydney
The Story of the Creative exhibition (digital show), Long Island City gallery, New York
2012 Albany Art Prize, Albany Town Hall, Albany, WA
Samll Iamges/ Grand Vision 40x40 Group Show, Wagner art gallery, Sydney
NSW Parliament plein air painting prize, NSW Parliament House
Tattersall Landscape Prize exhibtion, QLD
Gold Coast Art Prize, Gold Coast city Gallery, QLD
2011 Group show "Pause...Where are we now?", organized by KWASS, Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre
Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery
Collector's choice, Wagner art gallery
2010 The Stan and Maureen Duke Prize at Gold Coast City Gallery
The Wynne prize exhibition, Art Gallery of N S W, Sydney
Summer group show, Wagner art gallery
Albany Art Prize, The Vancouver Arts Centre, Western Australia
Collector's Choice, Wagner art gallery, Sydney
Guildford Grammar School Art & Sale Exhibition, Perth
Small Images/Grand Visions, 40x40cm group show @ Wagner art gallery, 9.Oct - 3.Nov
Stock Room Exhibition, Wagner Art Gallery
Chapman & Bailey Art Awards 2010, @ Metro Arts, Brisbane
Christmas Group Show - Wagner art gallery
BSG Small works Prize, Brunswick Street gallery
2009 Winter gallery artists group show, Diehl gallery, Jackson Hole, US
Korea Woman's art society in Sydney 3rd Group show, Farm House gallery, Sydney
Christmas group show, Wagner art gallery
Collector's Choice, Wagner art gallery, Sydney
Group exhibition, Diehl gallery, Jackson Hole, US
Artists@Ashfield Group show, Thirning Villa (Ashfield), sponsored by Ashfield council
Korea-Australia Exchange exhibition, organized by Gong-Pyung artspace (Korea) and Cross Bay gallery(Sydney), Global gallery,Sydney
2008 The city of Albany Art Prize, the Vancouver Arts Centre, Albany, Western Australia
The Paddington Art Prize, Mary Place Gallery, Sydney
2007 Showcase, Gallery O, Perth, Western Australia
Sydney International Art Show (Korea & Australia), Kara's Art gallery, Sydney
2006 3 artists show, Jackman Gallery, Melbourne
New 3 artists group show, Kazari Collector, Melbourne
Christmas group show, Rex-Livingston art dealer
2005 Art Sydney 05, RHI & Hordern Pavilion
Group exhibition, Rex-Livingston art dealer
2004 Group show (Michael Nagy gallery)
Cromwell's art auction
Labor group show,Tap Gallery, Sydney
Fundraising show, Gallery 4A, Sydney
2002 Royal Easter show
Art exhibition for Launch of Burwood's cultural & community centre, Burwood
Campion art prize (Sydney University), First prize
2001 'Landscapes', Campsie Central Library, Sydney
4A gallery members show
2000 King's school art prize, King's School
1999 'Kr' Korean artists show, curated by min-woo bang
King's school art prize, King's School
Contemporary painting show (curated by Su Baker), SCA gallery
Blacktown City Council art exhibition
'Art as art' a collective 99 project
1998 King's School Art prize
4A Gallery members show
1997 SCA, Honours Graduation show
1996 SCA, BVA Grauduating Show
1994 Winsor & Newton Australian Awards & Art Expo
1993 National Art School, final year show
Winsor & Newton Australian Awards
1992 Third Loyld Rees memorial art award exhibition
Waverley Art Prize, finalists exhibition
References
Andrew Frost, The Inexhaustible Immensity of the Sky, Jan 2018
Andrew Frost, Art Collector, Critic's Choice, p176-177, July-August 2017.
Andrew Frost, Australian Art Collector (no.1), p.26,1997
Andrew Frost, Critic's Picks, Sydney Morning Herald, 11.Oct.2013 http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/critics-picks-20131010-2v91z.html
Andrew Frost, The Guardian, http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/australia-culture-blog/2014/aug/18/melbourne-art-fair-paintings-perfume-rolls-royce
ABC Radio National, Weekend Arts, http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/weekendarts/min-woo-bang/5696754
Art Dot.TV http://www.artdot.tv/melbourne-art-fair-2014.html
Australian House & Garden, p23,January 2015
Australian House & Garden, April issue, 2018
Bruce James, 'Arts', The Sydney Morning Herald, April.17.1999.
Bruce James, 'Galleries', The Sydney Morning Herald, Feb.7.1997
Gifting Exhibition, Penrith regional gallery, 2019 https://www.bluemts.com.au/news/gifting-exhibition-celebrates-the-story-of-penrith-regional-gallery-home-of-the-lewers-bequest/
Lenny Ann Low 'Open Gallery' Spectrum, The Sydney Morning Herald, February 5-6, 2005
Lesley Zampatti, 'Luscious Landscapes', Post, 20 April 2013-p.64.
Inner Western Courier, tuesday 8 febuary 2005 , p36.
Elizabeth Fortescue, The Daily Telegraph, Saturday, Feb 12, 2005-p36.
Jin Kwon, The Korean Times (Sydney), 7.July.2006
Jin Kwon, Hanho Korean Daily,24.May.2018 http://www.hanhodaily.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=56600
Trevor Lang, 'Insight of Min Woo Bang', Artist's Palette Magazine, No 46, 2006
The Artist Magazine, http://www.theartist.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=1626
Virgin Australia Voyeur magazine, September issue, p138, 2013
Mosman Art Prize 2016 article: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/mosman-daily/
Vogue Australia, ART & Design Edited by Freya Herring, July-August edition 2017, p.112
*The permanent collection of the Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest, 2018
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The Inexhaustible Immensity of the Sky
There is an undeniably powerful sense of the sublime in Min Woo Bang’s paintings. His skyscapes have an immediate visual attraction, suggesting the majestic language of classical European landscape paintings, but transposed to a place that is both familiar and strange. Something is conjured out of nothingness in these pictures, the ephemeral beauty of clouds organised into the record of fleeting dramas that conclude with the setting of the sun.
Bang’s use of perspective, often setting his roiling clouds above mountains and forests, gently directs the viewer’s eye to the centre of the picture. The artist’s love of 16th and 17th century European landscape paintings can be found in these kinds of compositions, where the details of supporting scenery, say a suggestion of a tree or a branch, or even a range of mountains, act as a frame to the central subject – the sky itself. And by using the Australian landscape as his key subject, Bang also suggests in his work not so much a Romantic lineage, but perhaps a more Gothic imagination.
Bang’s paintings reinstate this idea of the majesty of nature into art, in what he calls ‘the inexhaustible immensity of the sky’. Working from hundreds of photographs taken on annual field trips to the mountains in January when the summer rains roll in, Bang creates sketches and preliminary small works in acrylics and oils in preparation for the move to a larger canvas. The paintings begin as abstract fields of colour as Bang works to find within them the form of the final picture, finalised under a silky glaze. He discovers within the paint the atmosphere of the picture, what the artist refers to as ‘another dimension for understanding the world.’
For Bang, it is nature that creates the image, but for the viewer there is a sense of another undeniable truth in the picture. Where the very chemistry of the atmosphere may eventually kill us, we are confronted in Bang’s images of our own momentary lives. This is both their power and their beauty.
Dr. Andrew Frost
January 2018