The Journey of Kim Ouweleen (Artist name: Murugandi)
Some people spend their lives following a straight line.
Others discover themselves through unexpected turns.
For Dutch artist Kim Ouweleen, known in the Go world as Murugandi, the turning point was not a decision, a plan, or a calling—
but a Go set sitting quietly in his home.
A Go Set at Home: The First Step
Kim grew up in Amsterdam surrounded by drawing, imagery, and imagination. He studied design at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie and later completed a Master’s degree in Art History at the University of Amsterdam, focusing on modern art, surrealism, and absurd humor. His path looked firmly set toward art and creative expression.
But in 2004, everything shifted.
There was a Go set in the house—one his mother had once bought as a gift for his father. One day, Kim picked it up casually and placed his first stones on the board. That simple moment sparked a curiosity that deepened quickly. Wanting to learn more, he went online in search of information and stumbled upon KGS, an online Go server. He created an account and chose the username “Murugandi.”
On KGS, he began playing with Go enthusiasts from all over the world. He kept playing, kept improving, and gradually began to appreciate the depth and beauty of the game. Looking back, he reflects that if his mother had never bought that Go set, and if he had not found KGS and stuck with the game long enough to fall in love with it, his life would have looked entirely different.
Deepening the Journey: Three Months in Wuhan
As his playing strength grew, Kim realized that self-study and online matches were no longer enough. In 2010, he traveled to Wuhan, China, for three months of dedicated Go study. There, he experienced Go culture at its source—watching high-dan players, absorbing theory, and understanding shapes and strategy more closely. Through continued study, reviewing games, online resources, and in-person instruction, he eventually earned the rank of 4-dan in the Netherlands.
Multiple Identities Interwoven
Artist × Writer × Go Teacher
When Kim returned to Europe, Go didn't remain a hobby—it blended naturally into his professional life.
He began combining Go with his artistic background, designing covers, proofreading, and contributing layout work for the European Go Journal. He created illustration series inspired by Go—shapes, textures, folklore, woodgrain, animals—turning the board into a canvas and the game into visual language.
He went on to write and publish Weird and Wonderful, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, exploring unusual and extraordinary moves in professional games. The second volume introduced AI perspectives on openings and unconventional patterns.
He also engaged in teaching and promoting Go, helping introduce the game as a tool for thinking, reflection, and cultural connection.
What Go Taught Him
In his own words:
“When you look back at it, it's very strange how such a small thing can have such a big impact on your life. If my mom had never bought that go set for my dad, and if I then had not gone on to find KGS on the Internet and stick with the game just long enough to start appreciating it, my life would look a lot different. Today, most of my friends are go players, a big chunk of my time and of my working life involves go. I have traveled all over Europe for go and have been to tournaments in China, Japan and South Korea. Without go, I would never have met Justyna, who I've been together with for 6 years now. It’s a strange thing, how one can discover a micro cosmos among the billions of micro cosmoses in the world, and become part of it to the point that it becomes a part of you.”
For Kim, Go became:
a catalyst
a community
a worldview
a place where thought and identity unfold
Go and Connection: A Shared Life
Kim’s personal life is also intertwined with Go:
Kim and Justyna live in Amsterdam.
Kim is an artist, writer, and Go player with a degree in art history.
Justyna is an iOS engineer with a degree in computer science, and also a Go player.
They met through Go, and despite completely different backgrounds, they discovered a shared love for antiques and vintage culture.
Go brought him companionship, belonging, friendship—and love.
Beyond the Board
Today, Kim continues to draw, write, and play Go.
Art and Go coexist in his life—not as two separate passions, but as interconnected forms of expression.
His story is a reminder that:
Sometimes the smallest object becomes the beginning of a lifelong journey.
Sometimes a casual moment becomes a defining move.
Sometimes a single stone placed on a board reshapes the world around it.
