Ji-an Kwon

Humming Letter #126

2024

Kwon Ji-an, professionally known as Solbi, is a multidisciplinary South Korean artist who has made a remarkable transition from the world of K-Pop to the contemporary art scene. After debuting in 2006 as a singer in the group Typhoon, she gradually shifted her focus toward the visual arts, culminating in her first solo exhibition in 2012, A Person’s Way of Looking at the World, in Seoul. Since then, she has developed a highly personal and expressive artistic language that fuses painting, performance, video, and sound. Her work is rooted in autobiographical experience and emotional introspection, often addressing the pressures of public life, the impact of cyberbullying, and the healing power of creativity. Through “self-collaboration”, she merges her background in music with visual art, creating dynamic compositions that incorporate sound waves and tactile gestures. Kwon frequently paints with her hands, producing richly textured surfaces full of movement and emotion, reminiscent of the expressive qualities found in the works of Renoir and Van Gogh. Her paintings explore the boundaries between existence and nonexistence, chaos and harmony, material and immaterial. Her signature aesthetic is characterized by swirling color fields, bold gestures, and a strong sense of rhythm, reflecting her belief in the power of sensory experience. In 2015, she introduced her interdisciplinary project TRACE, marking a turning point in her practice and affirming her position as an “art-tainer", a unique cultural figure who bridges the gap between pop culture and contemporary art. In recognition of her contributions, she received the Arttainer Division Award at the 2019 Korea First Brand Awards. Today, Kwon Ji-an stands as one of South Korea’s most original and influential voices in the arts, continuing to push boundaries through works that are not only seen but deeply felt. “If my paintings can touch someone’s heart and be part of their healing process, that would be amazing.” – Kwon Ji-an