why did Samweipen call ‘laziness’ an art?

a multi-layered art experience with exhibits, music, and merchandise – Sam Weippen Solo Exhibition

sAMBYPEN’s solo exhibition ‘LAZY’, on view through May 17, 2025 at PKM Gallery inSamcheong-dong, Seoul, isan art project that brings the emotional state of laziness to the forefront. celebrating the artist’s 10th anniversary, the exhibition willfeature 18 new paintings, exhibition-related art products, and a music album.

a painterly language that humorously explores the lethargyof modern life

in this exhibition, Samweifen ‘s work goes beyond simple laziness to explore the complexemotion of ‘laziness’ created by information overload and daily stress.the artist takes this as a “reflection of contemporary society” and expressesit from the perspective of an observer rather than a critic.

the representative character, “Time Bomb Man,” symbolizes the way we know what we need to do but procrastinate. he appears with a fuse on his head and often explodes or emits smoke. the character appears alongside Pokémon, The Simpsons, and classical paintings, revealing Samweifen’s signature humor in rearranging familiar images.

twists and Homages: The Irony of Image Consumption in Visual Art

samweifen’s work always plays with the boundaries of the familiar and the unfamiliar. whether it‘s corporate mascots, cartoon characters, famous paintings, or internet memes , Sambaypentwists andrearranges easily recognizable images,blurring the lines betweenthe real and the fake, high art andpopular culture.

the series stems from the artist’s graffiti experience, with objects such as cute animal characters, dynamite, and tanks superimposed on rough, weathered canvases. the word “FAKE ” is a deviceto question the authenticity of art and the authority of images.

art foreveryone, a lifestyle proposition that goes beyond artwork

ThePKM Gallery’s shop space featuresmerchandise related to the exhibition.postcards, T-shirts, stickers, rugs, and other items embody the artist’s image language in everyday objects, makingthe experience of art more accessible. more than just a way to own a piece of art, these products are a new way to bring art closer to your life.

the exhibition experience is expandedwith music to tell the story of ‘Laziness’

the exhibition doesn’t stop at visual art; it alsofeatures an album that extends the exhibition’s theme to music.led by executive producer Logikal J, five musicians, including Ryu Soo-soo, Uneducated Kid, Northfacegawd, Wuuslime, and oygli, participated in the album, and each track interprets the emotion of ‘laziness ‘ through a variety of sounds.the music connects to the emotions of the exhibition and deepens the message of Sambaipen through the aural experience.

10 yearsof Samweifen, and more experiments to come

samweifen is an artist who moves freely between art and pop culture, fashion and commerce. his work stems from his childhood experience traveling between Europe and the United States, where he noticedsimilarities between socialist propaganda and commercial advertising imagery. he has collaborated with global brands such as Nike, Porsche, and Adobe.

in this exhibition, he realizes his philosophy of “art for everyone” through an accessible visual language and sensual exhibition presentation. visitors will experience bridging the gap between art and reality through messages that can be felt intuitively without complicated interpretation.

exhibition Information

exhibition Name: Sam Weipen Solo Exhibition ‘LAZY’

venue: PKM Gallery (40 Samcheong-ro 7-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul)

date: April 12 – May 17, 2025

viewing points: New paintings, art goods, exhibition-related music album