From December 18 to December 29, 2024, Gagosipo Gallery in Bukchon, Seoul, will host Self-Portrait, the latest solo exhibition by artist Im Gye Im. Known for her evocative exploration of identity and emotional experiences, Im’s new body of work delves into the complexities of inequality, familial dynamics, and personal healing.

The exhibition centers on Im’s ongoing investigation of emotional scars formed by discrimination and favoritism, particularly within familial settings. For the artist, childhood experiences of inequality within her family created a lasting impact, prompting her to find solace in simple objects like gift boxes. These boxes became symbols of both emotional oppression and escape, representing a safe space for expressing repressed emotions.

In this series, Im uses empty boxes as a metaphor for the dualities of life—love and hate, equality and discrimination. Arranged in chaotic yet balanced formations, the boxes reflect the paradoxical nature of human emotions and relationships. The artist’s creative process reveals a self-portrait of layered emotions, resonating with universal themes of hope and resilience.

The installation’s chaotic order becomes a metaphor for life’s intricate and messy relationships. “Each disordered box paradoxically contributes to balance and harmony when viewed as a whole,” Im explains, offering a message of hope and renewal to audiences. This visual articulation of entangled personal and collective experiences encourages viewers to reflect on their own lives.

Im Gye Im graduated from the Fine Arts program at Hongik University Graduate School and has consistently explored themes of identity, inequality, and emotional reconciliation in her artistic practice. Her latest exhibition showcases paintings and fine art prints that further her distinctive narrative approach.

Self-Portrait presents an opportunity for visitors to experience a deeply personal yet universal meditation on the tensions between individuality and interconnectedness. Gagosipo Gallery, located in the cultural heart of Seoul’s Bukchon neighborhood, provides a fitting venue for this intimate and thought-provoking exhibition.

The gallery is open to visitors from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., except Mondays. Through this exhibition, Im Gye Im continues to solidify her place as an artist deeply committed to exploring the human condition through innovative and emotionally charged works.

Sayart / Nao Yim, yimnao@naver.com