Korean-born, Los Angeles-based artist Ken Gun Min is set to debut his third solo exhibition, 'Strange Days of a Quiet Sun,' at Nazarian/Curcio in Los Angeles. The showcase features a new body of work including a monumental double-sided folding screen and paintings that utilize Min's signature technique of combining embroidery, beading, and hand-applied materials with traditional pigments. The exhibition explores themes of sadness and estrangement through the astronomical metaphor of a 'quiet sun,' blending Western art history with East Asian traditions.
Min’s rise in the art market is highlighted by sold-out exhibitions and increasing demand from major institutions, marking him as a significant figure in contemporary painting. His work is notable for its complex layering of queer narratives, political histories—specifically regarding US military presence in Asia—and traditional folklore. By subverting classical motifs like Saint Sebastian and integrating hand-drawn maps of military bases, Min creates a maximalist visual language that addresses the tensions between intimacy, brutality, and cultural identity.