Artist Kim Jong-gu, born in 1963, studied sculpture at Seoul National University and its graduate school before earning a master's degree from Chelsea College in the UK. During his graduate studies, he won the grand prize at the 9th Korea Art Exhibition. Since his first solo exhibition at Arko Art Center in 1993, he has held a total of 19 exhibitions at venues including the Kim Chong Yung Museum, Spencer Museum in the U.S., and the National Cheongju Museum, while also participating in numerous group exhibitions. His works are housed in institutions such as the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, the Seoul Museum of Art, and the Spencer Museum. He is currently a professor at Ewha Womans University.
In his early work, Kim sculpted massive metal blocks to depict human forms. Unlike traditional sculpture materials such as clay, wood, or stone, he chose metal for its unique quality, despite its difficulty in carving. A turning point in his practice occurred in 1997 when three of his works were stolen during an exhibition in the UK. While reworking his lost sculptures, he began collecting iron dust from his studio floor and experimenting with it as a medium.
Kim’s transformation of solid metal into dust is not only a physical change but also a conceptual one, symbolizing the shift from industrial rigidity to a more fluid, inclusive perspective. By repurposing metal dust—a byproduct of sculpting—he transitions from the verticality of sculpture to the horizontality of painting. His work reflects a desire to replace hierarchical structures with more open, horizontal ones, encouraging viewers to experience mental and spiritual freedom, akin to the liberated nature of scattered iron dust.
