The Thousand Mile Journey
November 30 - December 18, 2024
Dabin Ahn
Hyegyeong Choi
Soojin Choi
Annette Hur
Sung Hwa Kim
Sarah Lee
Mark Yang
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
-Laozi
The Thousand Mile Journey spotlights leading voices from the Asian diaspora in the U.S. on a bold expedition into the realms of abstraction, surrealism, and dreamscapes. In a significant departure from a decade dominated by overtly representational figurative work, these contemporary artists delve into the subconscious, initiating a renewed exploration of the inner self. This shift arrives at a pivotal moment in the art world, as marginalized voices—long suppressed by fine art institutions—are finally being celebrated and uplifted. The journey undertaken by these artists mirrors broader global conversations on movement, migration, and identity. Their inward-facing artistic exploration resonates with themes seen in this year's Venice Biennale, Foreigners Everywhere, offering a critical reflection on the complex and layered experiences of Asian artists in the diaspora, and positioning this exhibition as an essential contribution to contemporary art discourse. As a fundraiser to benefit CIDA, an organization supporting Asian diaspora communities of different abilities, The Thousand Mile Journey represents the first step in a shared movement. Together, we embark on this journey—artists, curators, collectors and audiences alike—uniting in our commitment to progress, empowerment, and positive change.
Net proceeds from The Thousand Mile Journey will be donated to CIDA, which you can read about below. Please contact info@clubhouse.art for all questions and press inquiries.
526 West 26th Street, 4th Floor
New York, New York 10001
Opening Reception: Saturday, Nov 30, 6-8PM
Regular Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 12-5PM
Exhibition Artists
Dabin Ahn
Dabin Ahn (b. 1988, Seoul, Korea) is a Chicago-based visual artist whose practice merges realism and abstraction, creating multilayered illusions that explore the interplay between harmony and chaos, reality and representation. His works, inspired by both classical and modern influences, blur the boundaries between the material and the fictive, evoking emotional depth through trompe l’oeil techniques and philosophical reflections on human experience. Ahn received his BFA (2016) and MFA (2020) in painting from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His work has been exhibited at venues such as The Green Gallery (Milwaukee), Edgewood College Gallery (Madison), Mindy Solomon (Miami), Hyde Park Art Center, Research House for Asian Art, ARTRUSS (Chicago), Sargent’s Daughters, The Hole, Make Room, Ochi (Los Angeles), Marvin Gardens, Selenas Mountain, and Long Story Short (New York), among others. His recent solo presentation was at Harper’s Gallery (New York) in October 2024.
Hyegyeong Choi
Hyegyeong Choi (b. 1986, Seoul, Korea) is a Brooklyn-based contemporary painter whose work addresses societal and cultural issues surrounding body image, identity, gender, and sexuality, particularly as they impact women. Her paintings challenge objectification and taboos embedded particularly in Korean society, using bold, often grotesque imagery to explore vulnerability, aggression, and self-torture, blending humor and tragedy to evoke both discomfort and reflection. Choi received her BFA from Chung Ang University (Seoul) and her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her solo presentations include exhibitions at Harper’s (New York and Los Angeles), Carl Kostyál (London), and Shelter Gallery (New York). She has participated in group exhibitions at Harper’s (New York, Los Angeles, East Hampton), Art Intelligence Global (Hong Kong), Pond Society (Shanghai), the National Arts Club (New York), Carl Kostyál, Milan, and Deitch Gallery (Los Angeles), among others. Reviews of her work have appeared in Artforum, New York Times, and Hyperallergic.
Image courtesy of Harper's, New York
Soojin Choi
Soojin Choi (b.1991, Seoul, Korea) is a Philadelphia-based visual artist who explores the complexities of human emotion through three-dimensional ceramic forms. By layering flat and spatial surfaces, she conveys the ambiguity of human experiences, using subtle facial expressions, gestures, and painterly techniques to create emotionally resonant, narrative-driven works. Choi earned her BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in Craft / Material Studies and Painting / Printmaking, and her MFA in ceramics from Alfred University. She has held residencies at the Northern Clay Center (Minneapolis), Red Lodge Clay Center (Montana), and the Archie Bray Foundation (Helena). Her recent exhibitions include shows at Dimin and Anna Zorina Gallery (New York). Her work is held in the collections of the Holter Museum of Art (Helena), and Alfred Ceramic Art Museum (Alfred University, NY), among others.
Annette Hur
Annette Hur (b. 1984, Seoul, Korea) is a Brooklyn-based contemporary artist whose practice combines abstraction and figuration to explore themes of trauma, grief, womanhood, and existential autonomy. Her large-scale paintings translate emotional and physical experiences into metaphorical spaces, confronting vulnerability, fear, love, and loss. Hur holds a BA from Ewha Women's University, a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and an MFA from Columbia University. She has exhibited at Stems Gallery (Paris), Korea Society (New York), Hesse Flatow, Ross + Kramer, Urban Zen, Times Square Space (New York), Fairleigh Dickinson University (New Jersey), and Heaven Gallery (Chicago), among others. Hur was a nominee for the Rema Hort Mann Grant (2019) and participated in the BOLT Residency at Chicago Artists Coalition (2016–2017).
Photo Credit: Garrett Carrol
Sung Hwa Kim
Sung Hwa Kim (b. 1985, Seoul, Korea) is a Brooklyn-based visual artist known for dream-like paintings that explore themes of mortality, introspection, and the transient nature of life. His work, influenced by artists such as Magritte, Bonnard, Vuillard, and Kim Whanki, combines intuitive process with structured composition, using light and darkness to evoke contemplative, emotive atmospheres. Kim received his BFA from the Art Institute of Boston and his MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art. His recent exhibitions include shows at Harper’s (New York, Los Angeles, East Hampton), Art SG (Singapore), Cob Gallery (London), and The Hole (New York), among others. His work has appeared in ArtMaze Magazine, Whitehot Magazine, and New American Paintings.
Image courtesy of Harper's, New York
Sarah Lee
Sarah Lee (b. 1988, Seoul, Korea) is a Brooklyn-based painter who creates ethereal nocturnal dreamscapes that blend imagination and nature, evoking both beauty and mystery. Working primarily in oil, she explores themes of solitude, introspection, and the natural world, drawing inspiration from the quiet of night and her surroundings in New York City. Lee received her BFA and MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, with additional study at Seoul National University. Her work has been exhibited at Albertz Benda (New York), Stems Gallery (Paris), Pond Society (Shanghai), PMAM (London), and Galerie Hussenot (Paris), among others. Most recently, she exhibited a solo presentation with Anat Ebgi in Los Angeles.
Photo Credit: Matthew Herrmann
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Mark Yang
Mark Yang (b. 1994, Seoul, Korea) is a New York-based contemporary painter whose practice explores the complexities of the human body and interpersonal relationships, focusing on gesture and physical tension. His dynamic compositions feature entangled figures that explore themes of vulnerability and connection, often drawing from his personal experiences and heritage. Yang received a BFA from Art Center College of Design and an MFA from Columbia University. His solo exhibitions include shows at MASSIMODECARLO (Paris and Beijing), Various Small Fires (Los Angeles, Seoul), and Kasmin (New York), among others. His work is held in the collections of the Dallas Museum of Art, the High Museum of Art (Atlanta), and the Institute of Contemporary Art (Miami), among others.
Photo Credit: Hayoung Chung
Learn about CIDA!
The Thousand Mile Journey is a fundraising exhibition to benefit the Community Inclusion and Development Alliance (CIDA), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that supports Asian-American families and communities in New York with children and adults of exceptional needs including disabilities, language and cultural barriers, and socioeconomic challenges.
Exhibition proceeds from The Thousand Mile Journey will benefit CIDA’s social coop program CoSpire. CoSpire is a workforce development social coop for young adults with disabilities. One of the CoSpire’s core programs is Art Fellow which allows CoSpire members to engage in training and development to become practicing artists. Exhibition proceeds will be used prudently to enhance CoSpire’s programs including the Art Fellowship program while simultaneously drawing Organizational awareness and inspiring CoSpire members!