NYAB Event - Kiseok Kim “Substitution”

Kiseok Kim “Substitution”

Hionas Gallery LES

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Hionas Gallery presents Substitution, the latest solo exhibition from Kiseok Kim. This body of work is a continuation of the artist’s signature Plastics series, and will be supplemented by his large scale, air brushed self-portrait (2009) that is equally impressive in both scale and detail.

When observing a portrait it is commonplace to discover an emotional passage unfolding, stemming either from the artist’s process or the subject depicted within. Kim’s portraits are, in a sense, the exception that proves the rule. In each picture the artist attempts to remove traditional emotion and context from the equation, presenting instead a pretty, polished and absolutely perfect face floating in virtual space. And in each space we discover patterned, vibrant backgrounds containing items like uniform flowers, polka dots, and emoticons.

The subtlest of expressions can be found in Kim’s depiction of these contemporary, fictional characters. A glimmer of surprise or a touch of boredom can be deemed present on the surface but it never overwhelms the work. Instead, the expression is a substitution for the real thing – a flesh-and-bone emoticon.

In Kim’s 2009 self-portrait, being exhibited for the very first time, the artist conceals his face with overlapped hands, leaving the viewer to inspect the bony intricacies of his hands and fingers, and each wrinkle and contour that define the mask. This presents a far different form of substitution, and the chord it is likely to strike in viewers’ minds will offer a peculiar juxtaposition with his more recent Plastic works.

Kiseok Kim (b.1973) is originally from Busan, Korea, where he attended Dong-A University and earned his BFA in Painting. Kim’s work begins with a search for some sort of human condition in contemporary culture, expressed as symbols, colors, or realistic descriptions, but with no negative or positive perspective. After moving to New York in 2006, Kim continued his formal training at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, where he earned his MFA. His work has been included in over a dozen group exhibitions throughout New York City and a number of solo shows. This is Kim’s second solo exhibition at Hionas Gallery. His first was Plastics (September 9 – 30, 2011), which took place at the gallery’s TriBeCa location.