KIM Jaehwan
Arario Gallery Seoul is proud to present a solo exhibition of Jaehwan Kim, from July 2nd through August 18th. The show will be Kim’s second solo exhibition following his first 2007 show at Brain Factory in which Kim introduced his deconstructed wooden dolls with inner mechanical parts exposed. Kim will be presenting six new sculptures, one painting, and 10 preparatory drawings across the first and the second floors of the gallery.
Placed on the floor in front of a black canvas is a piece of sculpture that looks closer to an accumulation of different found objects. Instead of structuring the exhibition around the walls which is the usual case with two- dimensional works, Kim’s space is structured with multi- dimensional vision, with even fluorescent lights that replaced the usual halogen spotlights. The works positioned underneath the homogenous illumination of fluorescent lights take on a highly objective presence. The artist’s desire to equalize the relationships among the works themselves as well as the materials which compose a single piece is shown in every detail of the exhibition. Kim’s deep and lengthy mediation on the construction of the exhibition is shown through the sculptures themselves and in the spaces they compose, thus the exhibition itself becomes a piece of art that embodies the artist’s philosophy.
Upon closer observation of each work, one will realize it does not take form of a typical sculpture. There is a certain sense of the figurative; however it is difficult to find the sort of delicate craftsmanship readily associated with wooden artworks. The absence of the artist’s touch in the collection of seemingly found objects makes it difficult to call it a sculptural work of art. Then one realizes that it was wrong to attempt to understand Kim’s work through the figurative interpretations in the first place. The works he showed in his first exhibition where the artist explored the relationship among humans in the form of mechanical wooden dolls have evolved to a more deconstructed sculpture which now calls attention to the function of materials themselves, their equality in value, interpreted to equality in humanity at large. Added to the wooden sculpture which still acts as the basic foundation, are sponge, steel, plaster, rubber, plastic, and aluminum pieces connected to each other without the use of any glue or connecting devices. Each material in its place relies on the other material to stay in position, to fulfill its role.
Various objects bearing their own form, weight, temperature, and texture are accumulated without hierarchy and united in harmony as a whole. This is the artist’s ideal structure of a functioning society. We expect the audience to experience the artist’s heartfelt contemplation in this space turned into a work of art in itself, and be sure not to miss the drawings which reflect Kim’s long suffered trail of thoughts.
