Green, born Yong Woon Park, is a London based artist who hails from South Korea. After completing his studies in Fine Art and Environmental Design, he took on a role as an Environmental Designer at Chang-Jo Architects before establishing his own Design Studio. Struggling to find fulfilment in corporate life, he decided to make a move to London where he graduated from Camberwell College of Arts, UAL, with an MA Degree in Fine Art: Painting. Currently, he continues to paint at his studio at the Bow Arts Lakeside Centre in London. Since moving to the UK capital, he has showcased his art at several exhibitions. Last year, Green took part in the Bow Open 2023 curated by artist and activist Chila Burman, titled Bring Your Light, at the Nunnery Gallery, as well as the Surging Silence exhibition at the Hypha Studios. In 2024, he participated in and curated a trio exhibition, A Mighty Gust, at the Four Corners gallery.
In the realm of contemporary art, Green's art emerges as a compelling narrative of resistance and introspection, challenging the deeply entrenched societal norms that dominate our lives. His vibrant canvases, marked by raw, dynamic gestures and unrelenting emotional energy, offer a profound critique of the modern world. Green's journey from a high-level corporate career to a life of artistic pursuit is not just a tale of personal transformation but a testament to the power of art as a medium of self-discovery and societal reflection.
Green’s story begins in South Korea, navigating the demanding corridors of corporate life, serving as an assistant to a prominent politician, and later as a senior leader in design firms. Yet, amidst this success lay a profound inner conflict—a sense of dissonance between the roles he played and his deeper calling as an artist. This tension drove Green to relocate to London, where he embraced painting as his ultimate form of expression. His migration symbolizes a defiance against societal expectations, a recurring theme that courses through his work.
London, with its rich cultural tapestry and dynamic art scene, provided Green with the fertile ground to cultivate his artistic voice. It was here that he completed his MA in Fine Art at Camberwell College of Arts, UAL, refining his craft and exploring the depths of his artistic intent. Green's practice is deeply informed by this juxtaposition of two worlds—South Korea, with its rigid social hierarchies and conformity, and London, a microcosm of diversity and individualism.
Green’s paintings are vivid, unfiltered outpourings of emotion. Using unmixed oil paints applied directly to raw canvas, he crafts compositions that pulse with vitality and tension. The uninhibited nature of his technique—bold brushstrokes, palette knife incisions, and splashes of vivid color—becomes a conduit for his inner turmoil. Each stroke resonates with guilt, anger, anxiety, and confusion, creating a layered narrative that invites the viewer into his psyche.
By Marta Puig