Soon Yul Kang

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Abstract aesthetic 2025

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Soon Yul Kang studied fibre arts in South Korea and Japan before earning an MA in Textiles from Goldsmiths College. Her work delves into themes of meditation, healing, and the passage of time, expressed through a variety of mediums such as calligraphy, collage, and handwoven tapestry.

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Soon's artistic journey is rooted in personal life experiences, which inspire her to create works that reflect on thoughts, memories, and emotions. Through her practice she explores themes of meditation, healing, and the passage of time, drawing on a range of mediums to convey her vision. Deeply influenced by her Korean cultural heritage, Soon's works are inspired by the Zen understanding of simplicity, repetition, stillness, and rebirth. She also draws from Yin-Yang theory, which represents the interconnected balance and harmony of nature and the universe.

 

Soon uses Hanji, traditional handmade Korean paper crafted from mulberry trees. This material holds profound significance for her, evoking childhood memories while offering both spiritual and artistic inspiration. Beyond its practical role as a support material, Hanji, becomes a vessel for mindfulness and ritual.

 

A key process in Soon's work involves repeatedly calligraphing Korean words such as 사람 (Human), 마음 (Mind/Heart), 사랑 (Love), and 엄마

(Mum) onto Hanji. The Korean alphabet, rooted in Yin-Yang philosophy, symbolises harmony between sky (ㅇ), earth (ㅁ), and human (ㅣ). After completing this ritualistic writing process, she cuts the handwritten words into rectangular/square shapes, starting with small pieces and gradually increasing their size. These fragments are then collaged into circular forms, evoking cycles and wholeness. The repetitive acts of handwriting, cutting, and pasting become meditative gestures, imbuing each piece with a sense of spirituality and mindfulness akin to chanting.

 

Living in a digital world, Soon's work offers a contrast, emphasising the slow, intentional nature of analogue processes and their connection to mindfulness. The deliberate pace invites reflection, contemplation, and the value of interconnection.

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Click images for details and if you are interested in any of Soon Yul Kang's work please enquire below.​​​​