By Kayla Lee

Boogie Moli, better known as Boogie, is a contemporary street artist born in 1995 in Kinshasa, Congo. 

The exhibition is being held at Doonamjae Gallery (located at 45, Tehyeran-ro 4-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul) from January 5 to February 18, organized by Oasis Art, CEO of Sublime Kim Ho-jae and CEO of Cuba Art Sunter Cha Hyo-joon.

Boogie and his family immigrated to England when he was 10 years old, and soon after, his passion for soccer led him to play in the streets with his friends. His talent was soon recognized, and in 2009, he played for Liverpool FC, before signing a professional contract with Wolverhampton Wanderers in January 2012, but injuries forced him to spend more time on the sidelines than on the soccer ground.

In the summer of 2018, after a brief stint playing soccer in Estonia, Boogie ended his soccer career and shifted his focus to art, working full-time on his paintings.

At first he started drawing on the trainer, and over time the work progressed to the canvas. Inspired by iconic artists such as Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Letna and George Condo, Boogie has developed his own unique graffiti style of work, which is now being recognized as one of the UK's leading young artists.

Today, Boogie has collaborated with major retailer The Couture Club on several successful collections, partnered with famous brands such as Puma, Funko, boohooMan and Yelir World, and appeared on TV programs such as GOOD Morning Britain.

"Thank you for giving me such a warm hug," he said to the Korean visitors who flocked to the exhibition. I am very honored to be welcomed into such a unique culture. I strive to immerse myself in your culture and find constant inspiration. I believe that you, in turn, will be inspired by my creations and immerse yourself in this journey with me. I sincerely thank you for opening your hearts and minds to my vision. It is my challenge to continue doing what you all love and believe in, and I will maintain the courage to continue."