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| Kim Soo-ja's "Beyond the Forest" is drawn with the simple yet profound medium of colored pencils. Courtesy of the artist |
By Kwon Mee-yoo
In an era where the hustle and bustle caused by social network services fills our days, Kim Soo-ja, an illustrator whose career dates back 40 years, invites visitors to pause and reflect on at her latest exhibition "Concentric Circles."
The exhibit, running through Sept. 20 at Gallery Dam in central Seoul, presents 26 artworks Kim created with her simple yet profound medium of choice ― colored pencils ― to share her personal journey through illness and recovery.
Commonly seen as the first step for children into the world of art, colored pencils actually have a history that go back to ancient Greece. Kim finds a connection between the simplicity of colored pencils and her own approach to art and uses these ancient drawing tools to erase the "stains" left by the fast-paced digital era.
Kim's works, mostly on circular canvas, are results of countless hand movements, painstakingly crafted to give a glimpse of the "essence of life beyond the tangible world." Her artistic presence serves as a counterpoint to the noise and shallowness of the digital era.
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| Artist Kim Soo-ja poses with her artworks at her latest exhibition, "Concentric Circles," which runs through Sept. 20 at Gallery Dam in central Seoul. Courtesy of the artist |
This exhibition holds a special place in Kim's life, as it comes after her battle with cancer. The pain and suffering she endured have enriched her art, breathing a sense of peace and healing into her works.
Kim noted how the COVID-19 pandemic, along with her illness, forced her to reevaluate her life.
Drawing inspiration from French writer Laurence Devillairs and Mexican poet Octavio Paz, she emphasized the importance of listening to one's inner voice and focusing on the present.
"Now is the time to pay all our attention to the voices from within, distancing ourselves from the noise of the high-tech era based on materials and speed," Kim said in a statement.
The artist hopes her paintings offer viewers the same sense of comfort and consolation.
"Like a tiny seed that gives out sprouts, like the water that runs without interruption, like the wind that is never blocked, like a stone that rolls freely hither and thither, like the music that brushes against my ear, like the echo that flies across the boundaries, my thoughts go farther and farther like ever-expanding concentric circles," she said.
"During the whole time I was working on my paintings, I could remain unperturbed and experience peace of the faraway horizon. I hope my paintings will offer consolation to the viewers as they did to me."
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| Installation view of Kim Soo-ja's exhibition "Concentric Circles" at Gallery Dam / Courtesy of the artist |
Kim's artistic journey has evolved over the years, reflecting her changing perspectives on civilization and humanity. Her 1995 "TV-People" exhibition questioned the relationship between civilization and humanity.
Since the early 2000s, she has focused on translating poetry into paintings and her previous exhibitions, such as "Illustration Essay-Blue," "Road to Insa-dong," "Drawing Poetry," "My Beautiful Garden" and "Walk around Seoul," have explored various facets of beauty and life.
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