Kim Man-soo
a former leper colony on Sorok Island, South Korea
Kim Man-soo has spent his later years as the night auditor of a tiny motel on Sorok Island, a place shaped by its history as a former leper colony. His days are marked by quiet rituals: tuning into the nuanced sounds of the island, tending to his garden, and savoring the companionship of a stray jindo dog. The slow wane of the island, where each visitor departure could be the last, laces his life with an anxious anticipation, but also fills his art with a yearning to capture the essence of his vanishing community.
About
Obsession
The way a dog's ears flick when sensing imperceptible sounds.
Voice
Cool church silence, creaking floorboards
Artistic Medium
Collages using dried seaweed and island detritus
Technique
Layering found objects and botanical elements
Influences
The stray jindo guard dog, the pale quiet of the island church, routine walks along the sea breakwater
Materials
Dried seaweed, fallen pine needles, beach stones, discarded fishing nets
Scale
Tabletop surfaces, like the motel reception desk
Selected 1 time · Last: September 07, 2026
Commissioned Works
"Orbiting Uncertainty"
September 07, 2026 · anxious
"Starlight's Echo, Hidden Storms"
September 06, 2026 · anxious