[Gallery Walk] 'From Destroyer to Alchemist' Graffiti Artist Cyril Kongo

Cyril Congo's First Solo Exhibition in Korea at Museum Wave
45 Works Including Collaborations with Chanel and Hermes
Until June 1... Includes Karl Lagerfeld's Final Dress

When people spot someone spray-painting on the exterior walls of streets, they usually report it first. Cyril Kongo (55), a French graffiti artist, confesses that because of this perception, he was considered a “vandal for over 20 years.”

Graffiti artist Cyril Kongo is performing graffiti at Museum Wave in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 12th. The country's first solo exhibition, "Cyril Kongo's Meta Canvas," runs until June 1. [Photo by Yonhap News]

Nevertheless, he stubbornly realized his own lines, letters, and graphics on the streets, completing his lettering. Recognizing his talent, Pierre-Alexis Dumas, the director of Herm?s, proposed that he design silk scarves, which began to make his name known worldwide.

The first solo exhibition of French graffiti artist Cyril Kongo in Korea is held at Museum Wave in Seongbuk-dong, Seoul. The name Cyril Kongo is a combination of the artist’s childhood home, Congo, and his real name, Cyril Phan. He is a self-taught artist who developed his artistic world without formal education, freely expanding his artistic language and gaining international recognition through various street art festivals and museum exhibitions.

“The street was my school.” Born to a French mother and a Vietnamese father, the artist has worked in diverse locations such as Paris, Hong Kong, and Guadalupe, Mexico, continuing his free-spirited creative journey. Kongo’s works embody the vision derived from his life and experiences, while serving as a bridge connecting the world through outstanding artistic talent and cultural diversity.

Graffiti artist Cyril Kongo is performing graffiti at Museum Wave in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 12th. The country's first solo exhibition, "Cyril Kongo's Meta Canvas," runs until June 1. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Luxury brands, attracted by his unique artistic world, have proposed collaborations, leading him to work with Herm?s, Richard Mille, Chanel, and other luxury brands. He also collaborated on special projects with Airbus and Maserati. His stage expanded from walls to scarves, watches, and airplanes.

The exhibition title, “The Alchemist of Graffiti: A Journey Beyond Boundaries of Art,” signifies a reinterpretation of the artist’s journey from the streets to museums from the perspectives of past and present. The exhibition highlights the artist’s biographical life and art through three main themes and introduces his works expanded onto meta canvases as well as collaborations with European luxury brands.

It showcases 45 works encompassing the artist’s world, including videos, paintings, sculptures, neon art, and collaborative pieces. Visitors can explore his diverse artistic world through installations inspired by Robert Indiana’s famous “LOVE,” as well as portraits of figures such as Andy Warhol and Yayoi Kusama.

On the morning of the 12th, officials are viewing works at the first solo exhibition in Korea of graffiti artist Cyril Congo, titled 'Cyril Congo's Meta Canvas,' held at Museum Wave in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Cyril Kongo says that while painting on the streets of Hong Kong as usual, he happened to meet Pierre-Alexis Dumas, the director of Herm?s, and gained the opportunity to work with luxury brands. This connection led to a collaboration with Herm?s in 2011 to present silk scarves, and in 2016, he created the RM 68-01 Tourbillon Cyril Kongo watch with the watch brand Richard Mille. In 2018, he worked on the Chanel atelier collection with Karl Lagerfeld.

This exhibition offers the first opportunity in Korea to see some of his collaborative works with luxury brands such as Herm?s and Chanel. The exhibition runs until June 1.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.