JD Malat Gallery is pleased to present Time Alone, the debut London solo exhibition by South Korean artist Han Ji Min (b. 1978, Jeollabuk-do), opening this May in the heart of Mayfair. Featuring 17 poignant oil compositions, this exhibition marks a major milestone in Han’s career, introducing London audiences to her quiet and contemplative world.
Known for her soft-edged portrayals of solitary figures in still environments, Han Ji Min explores the tension between the visible world and the inner emotional landscape. Using near-achromatic hues of grey, blue, and pink, she conveys both restraint and fragile hope, crafting spaces that hover between melancholy and tranquillity.
At the heart of Time Alone is Han’s belief that “backs don’t lie.” Her subjects are often viewed from behind, unaware and unguarded, offering viewers an intimate glimpse into the honesty and vulnerability of everyday moments. Through quiet observation, she brings the rhythm of the mundane into focus.
Each canvas becomes a mirror: not just of others, but of ourselves. Han draws attention to the small, subconscious gestures of daily life, inviting us to reconsider the boundaries between observer and observed. Her visual language reflects both personal experience and a keen sensitivity to contemporary life in Seoul, evoking the ambivalence of solitude, the poignancy of stillness, and the quiet hope of human connection.
Time Alone, exhibited on the lower-ground floor of JD Malat Gallery, offers a rare London glimpse into Han Ji Min’s introspective visual language, a counterpoint to the city’s noise and relentless movement. It is an invitation to slow down, look closely, and reconnect with the quiet beauty of the everyday.
