A popular cartoonist died in Paris, after leaving an exhibition of his work.
Cartoonist Kim Jung Gi has died “suddenly” of a heart attack aged 47.
The South Korean artist was known for his ability to recreate complex scenes entirely from memory and holds the Guinness World Record for “longest drawing by an individual”.
On Kim Jung Gi’s Twitter account, collaborator Hyun Jin Kim confirmed that the artist suffered a heart attack after leaving a gallery exhibit of his work in Paris and arriving at the airport, where he was to fly to New York City to appear in Artists’ Alley at New York Comic Con.
It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we inform you of the sudden passing of Kim Jung Gi. After finishing his last schedule in Europe, Jung Gi went to the airport to fly to New York, where he experienced chest pains and was taken to a nearby hospital for surgery, but sadly passed away.
October 3, 2022
After having done so much for us, you can now put down your brushes.
Thank you Jung Gi.
October 5, 2022
Hyun Jin Kim
The Daniel Maghen Gallery in Paris, where Kim’s work is on exhibition, posted to Instagram more information about the artist’s passing. “It is with a great sadness that we inform you of the death of Kim Jung Gi on Monday evening in Paris,” the post reads. “The South Korean artist died after a heart attack at the age of 47. His sudden disappearance contrasts with the immense happiness he brought us. We are speechless. Daniel Maghen, the entire gallery team, and particularly Olivier Souillé, who had accompanied him for ten years, are terribly affected by his loss. All our thoughts are turned to his family, his wife and his two children, his friends, his collaborators Kim Hyun Jin, Boin Lee, Jean-Christophe Caurette… and his fans, for whom his disappearance will leave a great void.”
The post also confirmed that, at the request of Kim’s family, the exhibition of Kim’s work will continue at the gallery through October 8th.
A flyer for the event reads:
KIM Jung Gi, the South Korean illustrator known worldwide for his graphic performances whose videos have millions of views, signs his great return to Europe with an exhibition-sale, live drawing shows and signing sessions at the Daniel Maghen gallery, from September 15 to October 8, 2022, in partnership with Caurette and Superani editions.
Able to memorize everything he sees and restore it in the form of a drawing, KIM Jung Gi is considered a genius. This phenomenal talent earned him to be invited to the four corners of the world, in all the biggest fairs and festivals, to realize graphic performances, “drawing shows”, during which he draws large frescoes freehand.
The exhibition presents more than a hundred works, large format illustrations made during his performances, erotic drawings, illustrations inspired by Korean folklore, and shows the extraordinary imagination of this artist through the incredible diversity of his production.
Throughout the exhibition, the Daniel Maghen Gallery organizes drawing shows and signing sessions accessible free of charge. This will be the rare opportunity to see a master of drawing make live large frescoes from his imagination. An unmissable appointment.
Watch Civil War II Covers Come to Life with Artist Kim Jung Gi!:
Many have paid tribute on social media following the sad news of Kim Jung Gi’s sudden and unexpected passing.
Kim was an art school graduate, who also served two years in the South Korean special forces, was best known for his ability to draw incredibly detailed and action-packed crowd scenes seemingly off the cuff. He has drawn comics for Young Jump magazine, illustrated novels, and created the manwha TLT or Tiger the Long Tail.
