MAWZ
b.1992
Artist MAWZ has been drawn to Disney animation films and cartoons since childhood. While studying Fine Arts at Chung-ang University, the artist created a character to represent himself and painted the world through its eyes. The artist’s artistic stage name, MAWZ, is named after the character from his early work. His birth dream of sharks and the movie <JAWS> inspired its naming.
The artist's work explores surrealism and symbolism, conveying messages of reality's absurdity, personal concerns, social situations, and aspirations. His work conveys social, cultural, and personal concerns through the use of symbolic imagery, featuring poetic symbolism and animated expressions. The symbols used include envelopes, ribbons, and eagles, and their meanings can be interpreted in different ways based on the viewer's perspective. His recent work revolves around exploring the absurdity of reality and social issues. He continuously experiments with new materials and conducts thorough research on the subject's background or history to add more depth to his work.
The artist’s defining characteristic is his use of Matière, which is conveyed through simple and implicit expressions with cheerful colors and thick brushstrokes of paint. Before starting any artwork, the artist meticulously documents the content or stories he intends to convey. He draws inspiration and motivation from his imagination, surroundings, and personal experiences to depict his unique perspective in his work. His recent work emphasizes background and three-dimensional elements over characters and icons from his earlier pieces, adding depth and highlighting the message. His animated style and expressions capture deep concerns across diverse subjects and allow for varied interpretations among viewers.
The artist is experimenting with various mediums to refine and develop his style and expressed a desire to expand into creating more three-dimensional work, in addition to his current focus on two-dimensional paintings. The artist previously collaborated with various brands, including McDonald's, Volkswagen, Cass, and SM Entertainment, to communicate with the public. MAWZ uses the process of creating art as a means to illustrate his personal exploration of the future unknown. He seeks to share his journey with the audience to spread positive energy and convey optimistic promises of life.
EXHIBITIONS
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022 From the Cliché, Gallery STAN, Seoul
2021 Embrace Uncertainty, Gallery STAN, Seoul
2020 POSITIVE ENERGY, Gallery MEME, Seoul
2018 Let Us, ANOV, Seoul
Ready Stance, PUBLIC GALLERY, Seoul
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 Artistic Living, Space Logic Samchung, Seoul
Bakbak! Nana! Jjajja!, Baik Art Gallery, Jakarta
Webridge Expo, Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas
The Rabbit Universe, Sinsa House, Seoul
2022 Rude Carnival, Lelia Mordoch Gallery, Miami
EMPTY!, Cabinet Club, Seoul
2019 1common, Chelsea Market, New York
PUMA CELL STUDIO, D Project Space, Seoul
2018 FRESH ART, Iljowon Gallery, Seoul
Dragon Scales, Gyeomjae Jeong Seon Art Museum, Seoul
2017 Choking Hazard, Kult gallery, Singapore
2016 1st Hyojabeer Poster Contest, Hyojabeer, Seoul
Launch Pad, Epoxy Lab, Seoul
New Drawing Project, Changucchin Museum of Art, Yangju
ART FAIRS
2023 KIAF Plus, COEX, Seoul
Art Busan, BEXCO, Busan
2022 KIAF Plus, SETEC, Seoul
Art Busan, BEXCO, Busan
2021 KIAF, COEX, Seoul
Art Busan, BEXCO, Busan
2020 URBAN BREAK Art Asia, COEX, Seoul
Art Busan, BEXCO, Busan
COLLABORATIONS
2023 Cass Cool Class Art
2022 Intel ARC X MAWZ
McDonald’s X MAWZ ‘빠빠맥’
2020 Vans Gangnam 1st Anniversary, Vans X MAWZ
Volkswagen X MAWZ