The Quiet Beauty of Nature: Kim Sookang’s Roadside Blossoms at Gallery Planet
Jason Yim / Published December 1, 2024 09:25 PM
Jason Yim
메꽃, 2023, Gum Bichromate Print, 60x50cm, 90x73cm
Gallery Planet will present Roadside Blossoms, a solo exhibition by acclaimed photographer Kim Sookang, from December 5 to December 28, 2024. This exhibition illuminates the understated beauty of everyday landscapes and objects, focusing on wildflowers as symbols of life's quiet vitality and nature's profound essence. In conjunction with the release of Kim’s photo book Being Itself (published by Nanda, 2024), the exhibition offers visitors an intimate glimpse into the photographs and creative processes behind this remarkable work.
Kim’s art is characterized by her use of the 19th-century gum bichromate print technique, which imbues her photographs with a painterly texture. This labor-intensive process involves layering a mixture of gum Arabic and watercolor paint, exposing the coated paper to light, and repeatedly washing and re-coating it. The resulting works possess a soft, warm quality, offering a tactile depth and emotional resonance unattainable through digital printing. Through this technique, Kim bridges the realms of photography and painting, creating unique pieces that invite prolonged contemplation.
The Roadside Blossoms series originated from Kim’s daily observations of wildflowers blooming and fading along her paths. These unassuming blossoms, while lacking grandeur, exude life and individuality. By observing them slowly and attentively, Kim captured their essence, translating her introspection into a body of work that speaks to the resilience and dignity of nature’s smallest forms. “My work is about looking deeply and slowly at small things,” Kim explains, urging viewers to rediscover the overlooked moments of their everyday lives.
This exhibition not only celebrates the publication of Being Itself but also serves as a meditative space for reflecting on the significance of seemingly inconspicuous elements in nature. Visitors will encounter wildflowers imbued with quiet power, each image evoking a sense of presence and connection. The exhibition invites viewers to pause and appreciate the delicate interplay between the mundane and the extraordinary, encouraging a reawakening to the beauty in the overlooked.
단풍꽃, 2023, Gum Bichromate Print, 60x50cm, 90x73cm
Kim’s use of the gum bichromate process aligns with her philosophy of slow, deliberate engagement. The tactile textures and painterly tones of her works evoke warmth and nostalgia, transporting viewers into a space where time slows down, and nature's subtle rhythms come to the fore. The blending of traditional photographic techniques with contemporary sensibilities enriches her visual narrative, bridging history and modernity in each frame.
The exhibition promises a rare opportunity to immerse oneself in Kim’s meditative world. By foregrounding the wildflowers that quietly adorn our surroundings, Kim reminds us of the fragile yet enduring beauty of life. Her art transcends mere visual representation, offering a profound commentary on presence, patience, and the understated elegance of the natural world.
As the year comes to a close, Roadside Blossoms at Gallery Planet offers visitors an invitation to reflect, reconnect, and rediscover the beauty hidden in plain sight. Kim Sookang’s meticulous approach and tender vision create a transformative experience that lingers well beyond the gallery walls.
개망초, 2023, Gum Bichromate Print, 60x50cm, 90x73cm
Sayart / Jason Yim, yimjongho1969@gmail.com
메꽃, 2023, Gum Bichromate Print, 60x50cm, 90x73cm
Gallery Planet will present Roadside Blossoms, a solo exhibition by acclaimed photographer Kim Sookang, from December 5 to December 28, 2024. This exhibition illuminates the understated beauty of everyday landscapes and objects, focusing on wildflowers as symbols of life's quiet vitality and nature's profound essence. In conjunction with the release of Kim’s photo book Being Itself (published by Nanda, 2024), the exhibition offers visitors an intimate glimpse into the photographs and creative processes behind this remarkable work.
Kim’s art is characterized by her use of the 19th-century gum bichromate print technique, which imbues her photographs with a painterly texture. This labor-intensive process involves layering a mixture of gum Arabic and watercolor paint, exposing the coated paper to light, and repeatedly washing and re-coating it. The resulting works possess a soft, warm quality, offering a tactile depth and emotional resonance unattainable through digital printing. Through this technique, Kim bridges the realms of photography and painting, creating unique pieces that invite prolonged contemplation.
The Roadside Blossoms series originated from Kim’s daily observations of wildflowers blooming and fading along her paths. These unassuming blossoms, while lacking grandeur, exude life and individuality. By observing them slowly and attentively, Kim captured their essence, translating her introspection into a body of work that speaks to the resilience and dignity of nature’s smallest forms. “My work is about looking deeply and slowly at small things,” Kim explains, urging viewers to rediscover the overlooked moments of their everyday lives.
This exhibition not only celebrates the publication of Being Itself but also serves as a meditative space for reflecting on the significance of seemingly inconspicuous elements in nature. Visitors will encounter wildflowers imbued with quiet power, each image evoking a sense of presence and connection. The exhibition invites viewers to pause and appreciate the delicate interplay between the mundane and the extraordinary, encouraging a reawakening to the beauty in the overlooked.
단풍꽃, 2023, Gum Bichromate Print, 60x50cm, 90x73cm
Kim’s use of the gum bichromate process aligns with her philosophy of slow, deliberate engagement. The tactile textures and painterly tones of her works evoke warmth and nostalgia, transporting viewers into a space where time slows down, and nature's subtle rhythms come to the fore. The blending of traditional photographic techniques with contemporary sensibilities enriches her visual narrative, bridging history and modernity in each frame.
The exhibition promises a rare opportunity to immerse oneself in Kim’s meditative world. By foregrounding the wildflowers that quietly adorn our surroundings, Kim reminds us of the fragile yet enduring beauty of life. Her art transcends mere visual representation, offering a profound commentary on presence, patience, and the understated elegance of the natural world.
As the year comes to a close, Roadside Blossoms at Gallery Planet offers visitors an invitation to reflect, reconnect, and rediscover the beauty hidden in plain sight. Kim Sookang’s meticulous approach and tender vision create a transformative experience that lingers well beyond the gallery walls.
