SAMBYPEN

Installation View (1)

PKM Gallery presents LAZY, a solo exhibition by pop artist SAMBYPEN, from April 12th to May 17th. SAMBYPEN has reinterpreted contemporary popular culture with humor and satire. Celebrating a decade of his debut, the exhibition showcases approximately 18 new paintings that explore the psychology of laziness in modern life. Throughout the show, merchandise featuring iconography from the works and original music by emerging artists inspired by its theme will be released in stages.

SAMBYPEN, HESITATE, 2025

SAMBYPEN has established a distinct visual language by parodying and creating new characters drawn from commercial brands and cultural artifacts familiar to the public. His work playfully subverts recognizable imagery and phenomena from contemporary consumer society—including corporate mascots, animated characters, internet memes, films, and masterpiece paintings—and questions the distinction between the real and the artificial. Guided by the ethos of art for everyone, his practice fosters an accessible dialogue with audiences, encouraging them to engage their imagination as a means of navigating the complexities of modern life.

SAMBYPEN, CROWD, 2025

In LAZY, SAMBYPEN examines the psychology of laziness in contemporary society. As people grow increasingly accustomed to the speed of fast-forward media and short-form content, they often find themselves disoriented—facing a flood of tasks that feel not urgent but bothersome. The character Bomb! personifies this unease—hesitation, fear, and helplessness that arise when responsibilities are repeatedly postponed. Appearing in states of exhaustion, psychological breakdown, or imminent explosion, Bomb! inhabits painterly scenes drawn from modern works of Edward Hopper and Édouard Manet, where animated characters from The Simpsons, Pokémon, and Casper the Friendly Ghost are featured—confronting viewers with a surreal ensemble that blends melancholy and mischief.

SAMBYPEN, CROWD, 2025

The sculptural paintings—produced through a layered process of pen drawing, digital graphics, CNC machining, and brushwork—represent a core part of SAMBYPEN’s visual language. Also known for his street graffiti, the artist introduces his Wall series for the first time in a gallery setting. These works draw from his graffiti practice, built through layers of spraying, painting, sanding, and redrawing, resulting in textured surfaces that evoke the weathered façades of city walls. Within these compositions, faded texts and illustrations mingle with dynamite, tanks, and cheerful animal and plant characters. The word FAKE, stamped across the surface like bubblegum stickers, poses a blunt question: Is fine art truly pure? With a language that is both concise and direct, SAMBYPEN continues to navigate the shifting lines between the real and the artificial, and between fine art and commercial culture.

Installation View (2)

Having spent his childhood in Europe and the United States, SAMBYPEN began experimenting with parody during his school years in Poland, where he recognized striking similarities between socialist imagery and the advertisements of New York’s Times Square. Since his first solo exhibition in 2015—where he satirized the Michelin mascot—he has held numerous exhibitions in Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, and Miami. He has also collaborated with major brands including Nike, Porsche, Adobe, and KB Kookmin Card, expanding his practice across diverse media including product design, murals, and public art.

PKM GALLERY
40, Samcheong-ro 7-gril, Jongno-gu, Seoul
82 2 734 9467

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