[Kim Soon-gyeom: Artistic World]

Guided by the belief that “what is most Korean can be most universal,” Kim Soon-gyeom has worked consistently since the 1980s, developing his work around the theme “Longing Beyond Memory.”

The memory and longing he pursues reflect an interest in the worlds of the past, present, and future.

It is a world where the artist’s own memories and experiences, along with dreams of the future, reside. As seen in his work, he begins with an affection for things around us that are forgotten or overlooked. Although the chosen subjects are depicted realistically, his expressive intent goes beyond representation, focusing instead on revealing the lyricism of deliberately staged memory.

In the 1990s, traditional windows and the outdoor landscapes seen through them appeared as background images, with the window symbolizing communication between the past, present, and future. In later works, he dismantled the window and rendered it in nonfigurative forms, further intensifying a condensed and symbolic atmosphere.

Since 2010, his works have brought together realism, abstraction, and surrealism within a single composition. His principal motifs are bangjja yugi (traditional Korean hand-forged bronzeware), water, and rapeseed flowers.

Bangjja yugi is a cultural artifact handed down since the early Bronze Age, imbued with the spirit and life of the Korean people. It symbolizes wealth and is traditionally regarded as a mysterious vessel that is harmless to the human body and helps preserve the properties of what it contains.

In the works, water signifies life, while rapeseed flowers signify abundance and happiness. The backgrounds also emphasize the beauty of empty space to evoke a feeling that is both Korean and contemporary.

In particular, his recent works give thick, sculptural volume to brass vessels (bangjja yugi) and rapeseed-flower forms, further heightening their sense of presence and depth. Rooted in Korean sentiment, the works embody abundance and happiness.

From Kim Soon-gyeom’s Artist Note