Embracing Tradition and Modernity,
Intimate Landscapes of Seogwipo, Jeju Island

SEOUL, Jun 2 (SayArt)-Gallery Baton in Seoul presents "Towards," a solo exhibition showcasing the works of renowned artist Kim Bohie, open from 30th May to 1st July 2023. 

Building on her previous acclaimed exhibitions at the Kumho Museum of Art (2020) and Jeju Museum of Contemporary Art (2022), the new exhibit features intimate and tranquil landscapes, drawn from the natural surroundings of Kim’s Seogwipo studio and her dog, Leo. 

▲ KIM BOHIE,(KOREA, B. 1952),LEO, 2023, color on canvas,162 x 130 cm, Courtesy of Gallery Baton.

A distinguished figure in the realm of contemporary Korean painting, Kim Bohie has continuously striven to integrate a modern sensibility. Through meticulous study of traditional Korean and Western styles, Kim has evolved her own unique visual language, capturing and expressing the innocent beauty observed in daily life, whether it be plant life, gardens, seascapes, or more.

Her initial explorations were characterized by experimentation with a variety of traditional painting techniques using colored ink. Through these means, she has represented landscapes, human figures, and still-life objects, reflecting a contemplative perspective. In the early 2000s, she developed her signature style of dot painting, using a vibrant palette to inject a sense of vitality into traditional ink landscapes. Her work explored the possibilities of aerial perspectives and two-dimensional interpretations, introducing an innovative dimension to Korean traditional paintings.

▲ KIM BOHIE,(KOREA, B. 1952),TOWARDS, 2023, color on canvas,130 x 162 cm, Courtesy of Gallery Baton.

Her relocation to Seogwipo, Jeju island, marked a pivotal transformation in her practice. The natural elements and daily scenes of her surroundings, from tropical flora to nearby paths, skies, and horizons, began to inhabit her primarily green and blue canvases. This phase of her work, capturing familiar scenes and fragments of memory, can be seen as a modern reimagining of JinKyoungSansu (the traditional Korean landscape style) and 18th-century European landscape paintings like those by John Constable.

The exhibition's centerpiece is the "Leo" series, featuring four connected narratives depicting Kim's black Labrador Retriever against a shared scenic backdrop. Although she follows traditional SansuByeongpung painting's style, Kim's application of exotic colors and composition imbue her works with a distinctive modern sensibility.

▲ KIM BOHIE,(KOREA, B. 1952),TOWARDS, 2023, Courtesy of Gallery Baton.One highlight of the exhibit is "Beyond" (2023), a compelling representation of a full moon beside a beacon mound of Sanbangsan Mountain. In this work, the moon is not just a light source or a temporal indicator, as often seen in pre-modern paintings. Instead, it becomes a focal point, creating a surrealistic atmosphere over the transitioning moment from day to night. The moon's densely and regularly painted surface provides an acute tension, much like the counterbalancing role of the yellow plate in Alexander Calder's "Red and Yellow Vane" (1934), attracting attention, absorbing it, and then redirecting it within the canvas. This work is a testament to Kim’s dedication to aesthetic analysis and interpretation of new subjects, following in-depth study and exploration.

Sayart.net
Maria Kim, sayart2022@gmail.com