92-Year-Old Artist Kim Yun-shin's 70-Year Nomadic Journey Celebrated in Major Retrospective

The Hoam Museum of Art in Yongin is currently hosting a monumental retrospective for the esteemed artist Kim Yun-shin, who at 92 years old, continues to captivate the art world. Titled 'Harmony of Two, Division of Two,' this exhibition is a profound exploration of her seven-decade artistic odyssey, a journey marked by a unique "nomadic" spirit that has seen her traverse continents and artistic landscapes.

“

She carves, trims, and draws while standing upright before trees and stones. This is the life of the female sculptor Kim Yun-shin, who is 91 years old this year.

Kim's artistic practice is deeply rooted in her life's experiences. From her childhood in Wonsan, North Korea, where she played with stones and trees, to her formative years in Seoul and Paris, and her significant period in South America, her work reflects a constant dialogue with nature and a profound yearning for uprightness and resilience. Her sculptures, often crafted from wood and stone, embody a powerful verticality, a testament to her enduring spirit.

“

The wooden sculptures, made from wood and wooden blocks, were carved or added to reveal the hidden grain and texture of the bark and inner flesh. First, the work was made to soar upwards, and then gradually expanded sideways.

This exhibition, the largest of its kind for Kim, offers a chronological journey through her diverse oeuvre. It features 175 works, including 124 wooden sculptures from the 1970s onwards and 51 paintings and drawings, some dating back to her student days in Paris. The inclusion of "Harmony of Two, Division of Two (1987-88)," a piece from the Guggenheim Museum's collection, marks its first public display in Korea, offering a rare glimpse into her celebrated South American period.

“

The exhibition title 'Harmony of Two, Division of Two' comes from the artist's work philosophy established in the 1970s. It means that the artist and the material become one (harmony), and another one, the artwork, is born through differentiation (division).

What makes Kim Yun-shin's career particularly remarkable from a Korean perspective is her ability to forge a unique artistic identity while embracing a global nomadic existence. While Western media might focus on the "global artist" aspect, for us in Korea, her story is also one of profound resilience and adaptation, a testament to the enduring spirit of Korean artists who have navigated immense historical and geographical shifts. Her journey from the Korean peninsula to international acclaim, culminating in this major retrospective, is a source of national pride and inspiration.

“

The exhibition features 175 sculptures and flat works, including 124 wooden sculptures from the 1970s onwards and 51 paintings and drawings, including lithographs and oil paintings from her study period in France in the 1960s.