Park Ki-woong, who has appeared in numerous works as an actor and in recent years has also gained recognition as an artist. In the second part of this conversation with Korean art critic Hong Kyung-han, Park shares the thoughts behind his exhibition “Future Superhero”, and reveals his creative stance through his deliberate approach to titling his works.

The discussion also touches on his relationship with his late father and family, unfolding a deeply personal narrative where individual memory and artistic creation intersect.

View Part One

Reinterpreting Villains and the Birth of the "Montage" Series

Hong Kyung-han poses a question

Hong : The 48 Villains exhibition at Lotte Tower Seoul Sky in 2023, which 300,000 people viewed - now I understand the background of why these villains appeared. This Whitestone exhibition seems to have a stronger narrative than the Lotte exhibition.

Park: Yes. While the Lotte exhibition was relatively direct, in my work since then, I've come to better understand the language of art. Last year's exhibition focused on cartoon villains. I did include some cartoon villains in the 48 Villains exhibition, but mixing 3D and 2D would inevitably stand out, so I only included one such piece. Then I decided, "Next year, let's focus on cartoon and animation villains," and that's what I did. Also, moving into this year, I included not just villains but also black-and-white heroes like Atom. I also included characters where the line between good and evil is ambiguous, like in "Ocean's Eleven."

Hong: This current work seems to have more narrative than before and feels like it's posing questions. Dialogue appears too. What is the 2024 "Montage" work about?

Park: There were Montage series, Dissolve series, and Distortion series. Distortion is the blurring effect work I mentioned earlier, and Montage is portrait work that composes overlapping memories, like a criminal's montage. They're portrait-sized, and I gave them the ambiguous name "Montage."

Hong: You're saying the identities of actor and artist cannot be separated.

Park: Yes. I thought they could be separated, but in practice, they deeply influence each other.

The Nature of Titles Guided by Word Choice and Symbolism

Whitestone Gallery Seoul

Hong: What does the artwork title "Tickety-boo" mean? I was wondering what it meant at first.

Park: In English, it means something like "Everything is fine." It's a Renaissance-era British slang that isn't commonly used now. I'm not the type to decide artwork titles impulsively. Art is still difficult for me, but I consider how titles can spark curiosity. Bernard Berenson said, "It takes 0.1 seconds to judge a work," and I try to find titles that intuitively click.

Hong: Looking at your portfolio titles, none seem to be chosen impulsively.

Park: Right. For example, in the work “Aight_PINK”, both the teddy bear in front and the one behind are beloved characters in the history of 3D animated films. The front character is loved worldwide, while the back character is especially popular in English-speaking countries. They originally have different colors, but I deliberately painted them pink with an attitude that seems to ask, "Is this okay?" I thought even among villain characters, there could be jealousy or envy.

Park Ki-woong "Icon, iconic" 2025, 90.9 x 72.7 cm, oil on linen

Hong: Is the work “Icon, iconic” religious in meaning? It looks somewhat like Jesus.

Park: No, it's not Jesus or any specific subject. However, depending on the viewer, it might evoke Jesus or other icons. I focused on the concept of an icon itself. Just as seeing three circles might make you think of Mickey Mouse or a specific character, many things are recognized as symbols even when they're not actual images.

Hong: I understand now that you've explained. Does the 'G' stand for 'God'?

Park: No, it comes from the phrase "Swear to G," meaning "I swear to God." I expressed it metaphorically rather than directly.

Hong: The title "Sus Nut" is also unique.

Park: "Sus Nut" combines "Sus," short for "Suspicious," with "Nut," meaning suspicious nut—a new term popular among young English speakers. For this series, I did sculpture work with my younger sibling, and it has a lot of my family's touch in it.

"Future Superhero" as a Declaration of Resolve

Whitestone Gallery Seoul

Park: The "Declaration" series is like a manifesto for me. The same goes for "Sus Nut"—it's both a commitment and a cry. The phrase "Future Superhero" is repeated in the works, expressing my desire to become a hero in the future. As we age, we compromise with reality in some ways, but I still wanted to send an encouraging message to the younger generation and comfort my peers and those older.

Hong: A strong determination comes through.

Park: For the icon, I created a sculpture myself, photographed it, then screen-printed it onto the painting. It's a work with many layers.

Hong: What does this "Future Superhero" exhibition mean to you personally?

Park: It has great personal significance. While preparing for the exhibition, my father passed away in an accident. He was like a hero to me. When I was young, I thought my father was Superman. As I grew older, that perception changed in size, but he remained the person I respected most. Proceeding with the exhibition without postponing it was my commitment and cry.

The Presence of His Father in the Act of Creation

Park Ki-woong and Hong Kyung-han in Conversation

Park: After my father passed away, I worked on coloring the sculpture pieces. I did it while crying. It felt like I was with my father. My father worked in interior design and helped me a lot with my work. He especially carved thin bamboo into various tool shapes for me, and all the coloring tools I used in my works were made by him.

Hong: Your father's traces are embedded throughout your work.

Park: Yes. He even sent me steel beads by mail once, to mix well with the paint. He was a very meticulous person. While working, I often thought, "Father, how far ahead did you see?"

Hong: Your father supported all your activities, whether as an actor or as an artist.

Park: Yes. He always told me to do what I wanted to do but not to cause trouble for others.

Hong: It was great to hear many things I was curious about today. I could deeply understand not only your works and working methods but also how your personal narrative and emotions are incorporated. Your explanations were so clear that I could visualize the scenes, and above all, I felt your sincerity. I hope this exhibition and your future work will further solidify and expand the world of Park Ki-woong as both an actor and an artist.

Whitestone Gallery Seoul

Carefully choosing each word, Park Ki-woong continues to confront his own form of expression. In his artistic world, where his experiences as an actor and his sensibilities as a creator overlap, one can sense a strong sense of resolve, introspective questions, and heartfelt emotions for those dear to him.

PARK KI-WOONG: Future Superhero