Ilhwa Kim | Geographic Portrait: A History of Surfaces: Violation, Adaptation and Sudden Growth

16 - 30 October 2025
  • “About 15 years ago, I began to explore my seed works, departing from my previous oriental paintings. At that time, I clearly felt I had burned the bridge with painting. The painting works were completely erased during my seed works era. Only after my recent three consecutive solo shows did I briefly return to experimenting with paint, though without any concrete results. None of the brushstrokes carried the power I was searching for. What remained on the canvas felt fragile, weak and thin.Another version of the canvas needed to be created. Then came this new paper-collaged canvas - what I call the ‘geographic’ version of the canvas, a painting empowered by collage.Now I realise that, over the past 15 years of developing the seed method, I have been quietly building a bridge between collage and painting. I still don’t fully understand how I arrived here, or what exactly I did - it simply happened. And so I reached this new, rapid and layered world: Geographic Portrait.” - Ilhwa Kim

    • Ilhwa Kim Geographic Coupling, 2025 Hand-dyed Hanji Paper 187 x 244 x 13 cm 73 5/8 x 96 x 5 1/8 in
      Ilhwa Kim
      Geographic Coupling, 2025
      Hand-dyed Hanji Paper
      187 x 244 x 13 cm
      73 5/8 x 96 x 5 1/8 in
    • Ilhwa Kim Decisive Choice, 2025 Hand-dyed Hanji Paper 164 x 132 x 13 cm 64 5/8 x 52 x 5 1/8 in
      Ilhwa Kim
      Decisive Choice, 2025
      Hand-dyed Hanji Paper
      164 x 132 x 13 cm
      64 5/8 x 52 x 5 1/8 in
    • Ilhwa Kim Discovery Path, 2025 Hand-dyed Hanji Paper 132 x 164 x 13 cm 52 x 64 5/8 x 5 1/8 in
      Ilhwa Kim
      Discovery Path, 2025
      Hand-dyed Hanji Paper
      132 x 164 x 13 cm
      52 x 64 5/8 x 5 1/8 in
    • Ilhwa Kim Threads of Portrait, 2025 Hand-dyed Hanji Paper 119 x 93 x 13 cm 46 7/8 x 36 5/8 x 5 1/8 in
      Ilhwa Kim
      Threads of Portrait, 2025
      Hand-dyed Hanji Paper
      119 x 93 x 13 cm
      46 7/8 x 36 5/8 x 5 1/8 in
    • Ilhwa Kim Birth of Rain, 2025 Hand-dyed Hanji Paper 119 x 93 x 13 cm 46 7/8 x 36 5/8 x 5 1/8 in
      Ilhwa Kim
      Birth of Rain, 2025
      Hand-dyed Hanji Paper
      119 x 93 x 13 cm
      46 7/8 x 36 5/8 x 5 1/8 in
    • Ilhwa Kim Flexible Moment, 2025 Hand-dyed Hanji Paper 119 x 93 x 13 cm 46 7/8 x 36 5/8 x 5 1/8 in
      Ilhwa Kim
      Flexible Moment, 2025
      Hand-dyed Hanji Paper
      119 x 93 x 13 cm
      46 7/8 x 36 5/8 x 5 1/8 in
    • Ilhwa Kim Birth of Emotion, 2025 Acrylic and Paper 162 x 130 cm 63 3/4 x 51 1/8 in
      Ilhwa Kim
      Birth of Emotion, 2025
      Acrylic and Paper
      162 x 130 cm
      63 3/4 x 51 1/8 in
    • Ilhwa Kim Cezannian Posture, 2025 Acrylic and Paper 182 x 150 cm 71 5/8 x 59 in
      Ilhwa Kim
      Cezannian Posture, 2025
      Acrylic and Paper
      182 x 150 cm
      71 5/8 x 59 in
    • Ilhwa Kim The Last Pianism, 2025 Acrylic and Paper 162 x 130 cm 63 3/4 x 51 1/8 in
      Ilhwa Kim
      The Last Pianism, 2025
      Acrylic and Paper
      162 x 130 cm
      63 3/4 x 51 1/8 in
  • Consistency becomes the defining force in Ilhwa Kim’s practice, as she exemplifies the art of patience in every phase of her execution. Her work draws the viewer into a meditative state, shaped by a commanding interplay of precision, spatial depth, and perceptual complexity. Through this dominant perspective, she crafts elusive imagery that invites individual interpretation, offering each observer a unique visual journey. 

    • Ilhwa Kim Sonic Recording, 2024 Hand-dyed Hanji Paper 93 x 119 x 13 cm 36 5/8 x 46 7/8 x 5 1/8 in
      Ilhwa Kim
      Sonic Recording, 2024
      Hand-dyed Hanji Paper
      93 x 119 x 13 cm
      36 5/8 x 46 7/8 x 5 1/8 in
    • Ilhwa Kim Territorial Wisdom, 2024 Hand-dyed Hanji Paper 119 x 93 x 13 cm 46 7/8 x 36 5/8 x 5 1/8 in
      Ilhwa Kim
      Territorial Wisdom, 2024
      Hand-dyed Hanji Paper
      119 x 93 x 13 cm
      46 7/8 x 36 5/8 x 5 1/8 in
    • Ilhwa Kim Material Trial, 2024 Hand-dyed Hanji Paper 187 x 244 x 13 cm 73 5/8 x 96 x 5 1/8 in
      Ilhwa Kim
      Material Trial, 2024
      Hand-dyed Hanji Paper
      187 x 244 x 13 cm
      73 5/8 x 96 x 5 1/8 in
    • Ilhwa Kim Sonic Recording, 2024 Hand-dyed Hanji Paper 119 x 93 x 13 cm 46 7/8 x 36 5/8 x 5 1/8 in
      Ilhwa Kim
      Sonic Recording, 2024
      Hand-dyed Hanji Paper
      119 x 93 x 13 cm
      46 7/8 x 36 5/8 x 5 1/8 in
    • Ilhwa Kim Chronological Seeds, 2024 Hand-dyed Hanji Paper 132 x 164 x 13 cm 52 x 64 5/8 x 5 1/8 in
      Ilhwa Kim
      Chronological Seeds, 2024
      Hand-dyed Hanji Paper
      132 x 164 x 13 cm
      52 x 64 5/8 x 5 1/8 in
    • Ilhwa Kim Symbolic Growth, 2024 Hand-dyed Hanji Paper 164 x 132 x 13 cm 64 5/8 x 52 x 5 1/8 in
      Ilhwa Kim
      Symbolic Growth, 2024
      Hand-dyed Hanji Paper
      164 x 132 x 13 cm
      64 5/8 x 52 x 5 1/8 in
    • Ilhwa Kim Calculative Flight , 2024 Hand-dyed Hanji Paper 132 x 164 x 13 cm 52 x 64 5/8 x 5 1/8 in
      Ilhwa Kim
      Calculative Flight , 2024
      Hand-dyed Hanji Paper
      132 x 164 x 13 cm
      52 x 64 5/8 x 5 1/8 in
    • Ilhwa Kim Architectural Blue, 2022 Hand-dyed Hanji Paper 164 x 132 x 13 cm 64 5/8 x 52 x 5 1/8 in
      Ilhwa Kim
      Architectural Blue, 2022
      Hand-dyed Hanji Paper
      164 x 132 x 13 cm
      64 5/8 x 52 x 5 1/8 in
    • Ilhwa Kim Tactile Interrogation, 2024 Hand-dyed Hanji Paper 164 x 132 x 13 cm 64 5/8 x 52 x 5 1/8 in
      Ilhwa Kim
      Tactile Interrogation, 2024
      Hand-dyed Hanji Paper
      164 x 132 x 13 cm
      64 5/8 x 52 x 5 1/8 in
    • Ilhwa Kim Low Altitude Flight, 2023 Hand-dyed Hanji Paper 192 x 224 x 13 cm 75 5/8 x 88 1/4 x 5 1/8 in
      Ilhwa Kim
      Low Altitude Flight, 2023
      Hand-dyed Hanji Paper
      192 x 224 x 13 cm
      75 5/8 x 88 1/4 x 5 1/8 in
    • Ilhwa Kim A Template of the Green, 2022 Hand-dyed Hanji Paper 119 x 93 x 13 cm 46 7/8 x 36 5/8 x 5 1/8 in
      Ilhwa Kim
      A Template of the Green, 2022
      Hand-dyed Hanji Paper
      119 x 93 x 13 cm
      46 7/8 x 36 5/8 x 5 1/8 in
    • Ilhwa Kim Natural Wingspan, 2024 Hand-dyed Hanji Paper 93 x 119 x 13 cm 36 5/8 x 46 7/8 x 5 1/8 in
      Ilhwa Kim
      Natural Wingspan, 2024
      Hand-dyed Hanji Paper
      93 x 119 x 13 cm
      36 5/8 x 46 7/8 x 5 1/8 in
    • Ilhwa Kim Seed Universe 11, 2016 Hand-dyed Hanji Paper 164 x 132 x 13 cm 64 5/8 x 52 x 5 1/8 in
      Ilhwa Kim
      Seed Universe 11, 2016
      Hand-dyed Hanji Paper
      164 x 132 x 13 cm
      64 5/8 x 52 x 5 1/8 in
  • The interplay and materiality of seeds on the canvas evokes a peculiar life presence, reminiscent of biological organisms that are still in growth. This interaction between the material elements and the essence of life creates an intriguing space on the surface of the artwork.

  • More About the Artist