GRAFFLEX
b.1982
Grafflex, an artist who shows a new wave in visual art, is working in the fields of art toys, characters, and graphic design based on graffiti and street art, building his own unique domain. In his childhood, the artist, influenced by American and Japanese comics, games, and designs, shows the process of reinterpreting images that we have unconsciously consumed from mass media, into a unique style.
Elements appearing in Felix the Cat, Mickey Mouse, Atom and Super Mario are newly combined on his screen. Through thick black lines, the main expression method of cartoons and animations, the artist creates his unique world filled with geometrical imagery.
Grafflex is a very influential artist in the art toy field as well as in street culture. He is the first artist who has collaborated with BearBrick in Korea. He also collaborated with YG Bear, Amoeba Culture, Nike, Newera and Converse.
시각미술의 새로운 흐름을 보여주는 작가 그라플렉스(Grafflex)는 그래피티, 스트리트 아트를 기반으로 아트토이, 캐릭터, 그래픽 디자인 등의 분야에서 활동하며 작가만의 고유한 영역을 구축하고 있다. 어린시절 미국과 일본의 만화, 게임, 디자인에서 영향을 받은 작가는 대중매체에서 무의식적으로 인지되어 익숙해진 이미지들을 독특한 스타일로 재해석하는 과정을 보여준다.
고양이 펠릭스, 미키마우스, 아톰과 슈퍼마리오 등에 나타나는 요소들은 새로이 조합되어 그의 화면에 구현된다. 카툰, 애니메이션의 주된 표현 방식인 굵고 검은 라인을 통해 대상의 특징만으로 간결하게 표현하며 자신만의 독창적 세계를 만들어낸다. 작품에서 자주 보여지는 눈, 눈물, 손 등은 각각 상징하는 의미를 지니고 있으며 이러한 요소들을 파악하게 되면 비로서 작품을 ‘읽어 나갈’ 수 있게 된다.
스트릿컬쳐 뿐만 아니라 아트 토이 분야에서 매우 영향력 있는 아티스트이며 최근에는 국내에서 최초로 Bear Brick과 콜라보를 진행했다. 이외에는 YG BEAR, Amoeba Culture, Nike, Newera 그리고 컨버스등 과 협업을 하였다.
AUCTIONS
2020 ‘November Feast’ Christie’s
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2020 Hidden Planet in Manila, Secert Fresh, Philippines
2019 Insert Coin, Gallery STAN, Seoul
Hidden Planet, Dohing Art, Seoul
2018 Live [Hamdoha X Grafflex], Gallery SKLO, Seoul
Arts in urban culture, Joy city mall, China
2017 Bold Factory, Avenuel Arthall, Seoul
2014 Realation, Everyday Mooonday Gallery, Seoul
2013 Ten to Twelve, Everyday Mooonday Gallery, Seoul
2012 Insight, Gallery Page
Genuine of Fake, Waylon Gallery
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019 ‘TO THE MOON WITH SNOOPY’ ART EXHIBITION, LMOA, Seoul
‘SOUL KOREA’ ART EXHIBITION, BOON THE SHOP, Seoul
‘MONTBLANC’ POP-UP EXHIBITION, SOUNDS HANNAM, Seoul
‘A BETTER VIEW’ EXHIBITION, ABV GALLERY, Atlanta
‘GALLERY STAN’ EXHIBITION 3331 ART FAIR, Tokyo
‘ART IN MOUTH: MANILA’ EXHIBITION, SECRET FRESH, Manila
‘SPONGEBOB 20TH ANNIVERSARY’ EXHIBITION, MIXC, Shenyang
2017 JORDAN BRAND ‘JORDAN HONGDAE’ GRAPHIC DESIGN, Seoul
'YO! GALLERY’ EXHIBITION, Beijing
2014 ‘BON VOYAGE’ EXHIBITION, LOTTE GALLERY, Seoul
ART FAIRS AND COLLABORATIONS
2022 KIAF+, SETEC, SEOUL
Art Busan Art Fair, BEXCO, Busan
2021 Art Busan Art Fair, BEXCO, Busan
2020 Urban Break, Seoul, South Korea
Busan Art Fair, Busan, South Korea
QQ by TENCENTS x GRAFFLEX, CHINA, Art toy Collaboration.
HANSUNG x GEN.G x GRAFFLEX, SEOUL, Art work Collaboration
NIKE JORDAN, SEOUL, Artwork in Space
NIKE CIRCLE 81, SEOUL, Artwork in Space
INXX x GRAFFLEX, CHINA & USA, Art Project
Urban Break Art Fair
Art Busan Art Fair
One Art Taipei Art Fair
Samsung Galaxy Book ‘Flex’ Commercial project
2019 Shenzhen International Art Fair
LINE FRIENDS Creators Art Collaboration
KIAF Art Fair
ART SHENZHEN Art Fair
SpongeBob with Grafflex’ art exhibition Plaza Hollywood, Hongkong
YO! HOOD, CHINA, EXHIBITION
NOUS PARIS, FRANCE, ‘US’ POPUP SHOW
JOY CITY, BEIJING, CHINA, ‘RESTART THE GAME’ EXHIBITION
ULTRA KOREA, 2019 Special Merchandise design
Art Busan Art Fair
2018 All the rage, Mandarin Oriental, Taipei
Complex Con, USA
Art Busan, Busan
Daegu art fair
2017 Art Toy Culture, Coex, Seoul
LA Art Show, Los Angeles
NIKE KOREA AIR MAX 30th ANNIVERSARY ‘KISS MY AIRS’ EXHIBITION
2016 Art Busan, Busan
2015 NIKE ‘90’s BASKETBALLl’ COLLABORATION
NIKE WOWSAN 107 ‘AIR EVERYWHERE’ EXHIBITION
SWATCH Loves Krunk, Swatch Garosu-gil Store
2012 SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 2 X BMW ART PROJECT
2011 DYNAMIC DUO 'DIGILOG' EXHIBITION