Won Kang is an urban sketch artist. His prints are now on our e-store, with proceeds helping to support our newsroom.
Urban sketch artist Won Kang is fascinated with the temporary nature of things.
“A building disintegrates way faster when no one’s in there,” he says. “There’s sort of a life force that sustains it. I find that very interesting.”
That quality of impermanence is what drove Kang to first start a sketch blog, documenting various buildings and facades around Vancouver.
“I wanted to start a sketch blog of some sort because I was looking at these neon signs in the downtown Eastside on Hastings, and in my own way, I wanted to preserve it,” he says.
His colourful illustrations include Ted Harris Paints & Wallpaper sign, the Bowmac sign, the 2400 Motel, Nick’s Spaghetti House and even the iconic “Hobbit House” from King Edward Avenue.
A passion to record character buildings
Kang first started drawing a sketch a day, a practice that he enjoyed, but at a pace that he wouldn’t be able to maintain forever.
“I’ve always had a passion to record those character buildings,” he says.
After retiring from a career in architecture, Kang started to wonder if he could turn his sketching into something more than a personal blog.
Following success sharing his images on social media, he began to reach out to stores to stock them.
First was Kinder Books in New West. Then others followed, like Artrageous on Commercial Drive and Kimprints in Gastown.
And now, Kang has teamed up with Vancouver Is Awesome, with several of his fine prints available on our online shop.
“I’m floored — I’m very excited,” he says of the collaboration.
With every print purchased, you support a local artist as well as our local newsroom.