Arario Gallery Cheonan will host CI KIM's seventeenth solo exhibition, RAINBOW, from March 14, 2024, to February 9, 2025. The exhibition presents over 170 new works across various media, including painting, sculpture, installation, drawing, and photography. Known for his innovative approach, CI KIM continues to push boundaries in the contemporary art scene, focusing on the interplay of color, form, and emotion in his latest body of work.
Born in 1951, CI KIM has often spoken about the vivid memory of a rainbow he saw as a child in Hoehyeon-dong, Seoul, which has remained a central motif throughout his career. For decades, the rainbow has symbolized abstract concepts such as dreams, hope, beauty, and art in his works. However, in this exhibition, KIM moves beyond the metaphorical significance of the rainbow to explore its raw, visual qualities. He immerses himself in the power of color, savoring the emotional and sensory impact each hue evokes.
The works featured in RAINBOW reflect CI KIM’s recent fascination with color as an autonomous element. He engages in spontaneous, almost instinctual acts of creation, layering vibrant colors on canvases, discarded objects, and everyday materials. This playful yet deliberate process allows him to observe how color flows, spreads, coagulates, and cracks as it dries. The result is an exploration of the organic and unpredictable movement of paint, which mirrors the unpredictability of life itself. Through this technique, KIM bridges the gap between control and chaos, making each artwork a reflection of the tension between these forces.
One of the exhibition's most striking aspects is the series of photographs on the fourth floor, which captures rainy-day landscapes on Jeju Island. These photos depict dark, somber rural roads under ash-colored skies, evoking a sense of desolation. The absence of a rainbow in these images speaks to the idea that beauty and hope often emerge only after enduring hardship. The stormy, bleak atmosphere serves as a metaphor for the struggles that precede moments of inspiration and clarity. This aligns with KIM’s belief that rainbows appear only after a period of suffering, a concept that runs through much of his artistic practice.
CI KIM's work is fundamentally rooted in the dualities of 'dream' and 'pain.' While the rainbow symbolizes dreams, KIM is acutely aware that the pursuit of those dreams is often fraught with difficulty. Over the years, his works have increasingly featured themes of death, perseverance, and endurance. These themes are reflected not only in his use of dark, intense colors but also in the unconventional materials he incorporates, such as coffee, blueberries, and discarded objects. This choice of materials, along with recurring motifs of suffering, reflects KIM's deep understanding of life’s complexities and the resilience required to navigate them.
The large-scale paintings displayed in RAINBOW offer a vivid glimpse into KIM’s instinctive connection with color. His vibrant use of hues opens windows to new realms of imagination, evoking the infinite and mysterious nature of existence. The interplay of light and shadow in his work invites viewers to experience the emotional depth and complexity of the human condition. As colors merge, separate, and transform on the canvas, KIM reveals the delicate balance between chaos and harmony, reminding viewers of the beauty that can emerge from life’s challenges.
Beyond the visual impact of the works themselves, RAINBOW also delves into the philosophical aspects of KIM’s artistic journey. His approach to art is deeply introspective, as he reflects on the relationship between personal experience and creative expression. By focusing on color as a central theme, KIM invites viewers to reflect on their emotional responses to his work, prompting them to consider how color affects their perception of reality. In this way, KIM’s art becomes a medium for exploring the intersections of memory, emotion, and imagination.
In addition to the paintings and photographs, KIM's sculptures and installations further expand on the themes of transformation and resilience. These three-dimensional works, often created from found objects, underscore the artist’s interest in repurposing materials that have been discarded or overlooked. By breathing new life into these objects, KIM draws attention to the potential for renewal and growth, even in the face of decay and destruction.
Overall, RAINBOW serves as both a celebration of color and a meditation on the human experience. Through his diverse range of works, CI KIM continues to challenge conventional notions of art, encouraging viewers to embrace the unpredictability and beauty of life’s journey. His exploration of color as a source of emotional and creative energy drives the exhibition, making RAINBOW a powerful and thought-provoking reflection on the complexities of existence.
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