Long Journey

Minseok Kang's Long Journey series captures a path that breaks away from the temptations and fierce competition of urban life, turning instead toward the depths of one's inner self. Set against the backdrop of a dazzling yet cold and unfamiliar city, the artist projects confusion of identity and the longing for existence onto images of cars, visualizing the psychological tension and anxiety experienced by modern individuals. In this series, the car is not merely a means of transportation, but a symbolic companion in the long journey toward the self. In a world swept up by speed and competition, the car reflects the instability of a self that has lost direction, symbolizing the pressure to keep moving forward toward a destination that may or may not exist. Though the landscapes in the works appear motionless, they contain subtle vibrations of emotion. Kang builds his compositions by layering feelings of fear, anticipation, and instability within the flow of a city where time and space intermingle. This method becomes a way of mapping the inner journey through external scenery, serving as a metaphor for the human condition—constantly racing between reality and imagination, past and future. Long Journey is not about a reckless sprint, but rather an expression of resolve to keep moving and an instinctive desire for life. Like an owl spreading its wings in the dark, the artist captures the courage to begin even in silence, vividly imprinting those moments on the canvas. Ultimately, this series is a continued artistic quest to question the meaning of one's existence, a journey that leads to confronting the strength within.