Kim Joon was born in 1966 in Seoul, where he still lives and works.

He attended Hongik University, an art school in spite of his father’s disapproval. After a period spent in the army, he became a visual artist.

In the 90s he started to focus on tattoo as backbone theme of his art. At first he used three-dimensional sculpture, then he started using digital technique like the 3D Studio Max software, shifting the tattoos on virtual bodies and considering the computer screen as an extension of the canvas.

The interest for tattoos derives from his mandatory military during which he tattoed his fellow servicemen.

In Kim Joon’s eye tattoos, a practice still illegal in Korea, are a way to express the subconscious. They display in daylight our hidden desires induced by materialism and collective ideologies. In Kim Joon’s opinion our consumerist society makes us want to buy and own things so much that in the end they almost pervade us.

Moreover the artist is fascinated by the duplicity of tattoo, historically they have been used to decorate or to create a sense of inclusivity or, on the other hand, they have also been used as a punishment to mark those who have to be excluded by their peers.

Kim Joon took part to several exhibits all over the world, from New York to Tokyo, from Paris to Hong Kong.

In 2012 Art Radar included him in the list top ten most-searched Asian contemporary artists on the internet.

He also teached at Kongju University, Department of Cartoon and Animation.

Solo exhibitions

2016

Kim Joon, Musee Magnelli, Vallauris, France

Kim Joon Crashing, Waterfall gallery, New York, USA

2015

Kim Joon, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Hong Kong

Somebody, Park Rue, Sook Gallery, Seoul, South Korea

2014

Somebody, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York, USA

2013

Moutai, Space Can, Beijing, China

Island, Gallery Leebae, Busan, South Korea

2012

Blue jean blues, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York, USA

Blue jean blues, Art Link, Seoul, South Korea

Fragile, Canvas International Art, Amsterdam, Netherlands

2011

Fragile, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Hong Kong

Drunken, Artlink Gallery, Seoul, South Korea

2010

Fragile, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York, USA

Fragile, Art Link, Seoul, South Korea

Tattoo & taboo, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Beverly Hills, USA

2009

Tattoo & taboo, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Hong Kong

Kim Joon, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York, USA

2008

Bird land, Sabina Lee Gallery, Los Angeles, USA

Kim Joon, Boxart Gallery, Verona, Italy

Duet et Party, Galerie Bertin, Paris, France

Duet et Party, Galerie Bertin, Miami, USA

2007

Stay, Space 355, Tokyo, Japan

Party, Touch Art, Heiri, South Korea

2006

Duet, Canvas International Art Gallery, Amsterdam, Netherlands

2005

Tattoo You, Walsh Gallery, Chicago, USA

2003

Flesh Park, June & TTL Zone, Seoul, South Korea

Saunabell, Ilju Art Hause, Seoul, South Korea

2000

Make me smile!, Gallery Wooduck, Seoul, South Korea

1999

Fire, Total Museum, Jangheung, South Korea

1998

Hair show, Gallery Sal, Seoul, South Korea

1997

Tattoo in my mind, Keumho Museum, Seoul, South Korea

1995

Tattoo, Segye Gallery, Seoul, South Korea

I love it, Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, USA

1994

I love it!, Insa Gallery, Seoul, South Korea

Group exhibitions

2016 

3rd International Digtal Art Biennial, Arsenal Art Contemporain, Montréal, Canada

2015 

Frontiers Reimagined, Giovanna Damiani, Venice, Italy

My Blue China, Manufacture Bernardaud, Limoges, France

Fermented Souls, Kateshin Gallery, New York, USA

2015 Gyeonggi International Ceramic Biennale, Korea Ceramic Foundation, Incheon, South Korea

2014

Tattoo, Brandts, Denmark

The 3th Jakarta Contemporary Ceramics Biennale, Indonesia National Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia

I was, therefore I am, Sydney CBD, Sydney, Australia

Walking on the Runway, Cube Museum, Bundang, South Korea

2013

Inauguration, Opiom Gallery, Cannes, France

2012

Thoughts on Body, Soma Museum, Seoul, South Korea

The Power of Photography, Trunk Gallery, Seoul, South Korea

Media Art 2012, Gwangju, South Korea

Irrepressible, Seoul, South Korea

Contemporary Korean Video Art, Hackney Picturehouse, London, UK

Korean Art since the 1990's, Gwangju Museum of Art, Gwangju, South Korea

2011

Constrellation, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York, USA

Art Miami 2011, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Miami, USA

Paranoid Scene, Interalia, Seoul, South Korea

Asia Top Gallery Hotel Art Fair, Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

2010

Daegu Photo Biennale 2010, Art center, Daegu, South Korea

Indaf2010, Mobile Art, Incheon, South Korea

Everytime When I Look Around, Art Center, Taiwan

30th Anniversary of The Young Korean Artist, National Museum of Contemporary Art Korea, Kuachun, South Korea

Printemps Perfume, Centre des Arts, Paris, France

3D Grand Illusion, Sabina Museum, Seoul, South Korea

2009

Korean Eye, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK

2009 Korean Contemporary Photo Now, 798space, Beijing, China

The Dream OF Davinch, Jeju Museum of Art, Jeju, South Korea

Magic of Photography, Museum of Photography, Seoul, South Korea

Come Join Us, Mr.Orwell, Art Center Nabi, Seoul, South Korea

Come Join Us, Mr.Orwell, Melbourne, Australia

Here & Now, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York, USA

Body speaks, Touch Art Gallery, Heiri, South Korea

Conditions of Being-as of now, Beijing, China

From Younhee Dong, YHD, Seoul, South Korea

2008

Paris-Photo, Keumsan Gallery, Paris, France

Pop&Pop, Seongnam Art Center, Seongnam, South Korea

Scope Basel 08, Sun Contemporary, Basel, Switzerland

Border of Virtuality - Korean and Chinese Media Art Now, Han Ji Yun Contemporary Space, Beijing, China

Art HK08, Keumsan Gallery, Hong Kong

Photo...photo?, Sun Contemporary, Seoul, South Korea

Being Now, Gallery Soheon, Daegu, South Korea

World-beaters, Gallery Soheon, Daegu, South Korea

2007

Asian Art Biennial, National Taiwan Museum, Taiwan

Ocultos, Fundacion Canal, Madrid, Spain

Field of life, California State University, Sacramento, USA

New Asian Waves, Zkm/Museum of Contemporary Art, Karlsruhe, Germany

Text in body space, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul, South Korea

Giant in illusion, Sejong Museum, Seoul, South Korea

Intermediae-Minbak, Matadero Madrid, Spain

Arco 2007, Gallery Hyundai, Spain

2006

Paris Photo 2006, Gallery Hyundai, Paris, France

Made in Korea, Paris, Annecy, France

Hybrid trend-India & Korea, Hangaram Art Museum, Seoul, South Korea

Art & science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

Spotlight 30 women, Paper Gallery, Seoul, South Korea

2006 - Asia Art Now, SSamziespace, Seoul, South Korea

Softness, Soma Museum, Seoul, South Korea

ISEA 2006, South Hall, San Jose, USA

Art/37/Basel, Gallery Hyundai, Basel, Switzerland

Contemporary Asian Art, Bonhams, London, UK

KunstRAI/Art Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Endless Clone, Space Leum, Beijing, China

2005

Winter-fly, Sk T-Tower, Seoul, South Korea

Toronto International Art Fair, Toronto, Canada

Art Cologne 2005, Cologne, Germany

Art Forum Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Asia: the place to be?, Alexander Ochs Galleries, Berlin, Germany

2004

Inked, Walsh Gallery, Chicago, USA

Reeling 15 Years, Savina Museum, Seoul, South Korea

Out of Window, Jip Gallery, Seoul, South Korea

Senef 2004 Online Film Festival, Seoul, South Korea

Minority, Kwangju Biennial, Kwangju, South Korea

2003

Resfest Digital Film Festival, Seoul, South Korea

Korean Tattoo Shop, Artinus, Seoul, South Korea

Korean Video Art Today, Walsh Gallery, Chicago, USA

Exhibition of the artists of Seoul in France, Artitude Galleries, Paris, France

Out of Window, Tokyo, Japan

2000

Scar, Kwangju Biennale, Kwangju, South Korea

1997

Body as Text, Keumho Museum, Seoul, South Korea

1996

Young Venture, National Museum, Kwachun, South Korea

Asia Pacific Triennale, Queensland Art Gallery, Australia

Seoul International Art Fair, KOEX, Seoul, South Korea