Rejection of traditional rules or practices
Reverberate through colorful primary colors and repetitive patterns ‘Atom Fist Series’
Until July 22nd, ‘Le Vichae Art Museum’ Kim In’s solo exhibition ‘Space Unknown’

Sayart.net 

Jason Yim, yimjongho1969@gmail.com 

 

At 2022 Busan Art Fair BAMA, there is an artist who became a hot topic by using repetitive patterns in colorful primary colors. Because of his unique works, large audience passing by the booth where his works were displayed, stopped in their tracks. The curator in charge had to have a busy day answering questions from the audience.

The owner of this exhibition booth is Kim In(55), an artist who exhibited the ‘Atom Fist Series’. He is a rising star in Korea Art market these days.

“I hate the traditional way of painting. I was uncomfortable with the observer's point of view looking at my work. At first, I made a work by repeating text on a canvas. Later, the patterns became concrete shapes. That’s how the Atom series was born. ” He said.

“I didn’t want to use plain colors when I was painting. Decades ago, in Korean society, the use of colorful primary colors was taboo. This is the reason why there are still many cars covered in dull colors on the Korean streets. At the time, if the artist used flashy primary colors, he was ideologically suspicious. But the flashy colors are modern. I use color my way, in the past and now. Choosing a color is an artist’s only power. ” He said.

He explained the origins of the Atom series. “One day, when I returned home, I ran into a plastic toy atom. Atom seemed to be looking at me. It was a moment, but then I saw the desire to resemble a human in the gaze of an atom or in its sparkling appearance.” He said.

Kim, who had been struggling financially in the past, had to work hard in order not to give up on the path of an artist. The price of the daily labor, he earned, made him not let go of his brush. “Being hard on the body is not a big problem. Rather, what was difficult for me was the time I had to spend with people who did not understand art.”

He was raised by his single mother in his childhood. The family was poor and there was no TV. So As a child, he immersed himself in drawing instead of playing pranks. Since then, he has developed a habit, and he still devotes himself to his work for about 15 hours a day. Except for all physiological time to sleep and eat, He is preoccupied with painting. He has nothing to talk about other than art.

 

▲ Kim in. He is a rising star in Korea Art market these days. photo from UPI News in Korea

 

“It’s good that I don’t have to try to communicate with others in art. I'm used to spending time alone. Even when I was young, I preferred being alone to playing with friends. There is nothing wrong with living another way.”

Kim's wife, Lee Jae-ok, is also a painter. He said that he and his wife are united by friendship. Since 1988, when he first met, he and his wife have endured and overcame difficult lives together. That's why he considers his wife a comrade.

His work takes a lot of time. Because his method is unique. He embodies his work by layering paints on the canvas. He repeatedly stocks primary colors and whites. What is unusual is that the three-dimensional surfaces stacked on top of each other have the flat feel of a general painting.

In this exhibition, he brought Superman into his work. “Now is the age of the characters. In this exhibition, I made a caricature of Superman. Characters like Superman have a story to work with. It also has the advantage that anyone can see the work in a friendly way, regardless of age. ” He said.

Kim In's solo exhibition will be held at the le Vichae Art Museum until July 21. The theme of the exhibition is 'Space Unknown'. About 20 of his works, including No reason, 31, Space boogies Woogie, and the Truth will set you free, will be on display.

At the end of the interview, he said, "For me, art is my destiny. Sometimes it's hard to handle, but I can't put it down. Now, the seal of the curse on me has been lifted after 30 years,” he laughed. As he said, since last year, more and more people are looking for his works. But his words were actually heard as saying that he had only now understood art.