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“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
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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.
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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.
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More About the Artist
Ilhwa Kim | Geographic Portrait: A History of Surfaces: Violation, Adaptation and Sudden Growth
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