다양체_유닛13 Multiplicite_unit13, Variable combination size, Stainless steel, 2024, Courtesy of the artist's instagram
The Sungmaru Museum of Art in Chungju is hosting Kim Jae Gak’s solo exhibition Multiplicité (다양체) from December 2 to December 10, 2024. This much-anticipated event showcases 18 works that explore the dynamic interplay of materiality, form, and perception, offering audiences an opportunity to engage with the artist’s evolving vision of sculptural art.
Kim Jae Gak’s artistic journey began in the mountainous landscapes of Yeongwol, where the natural phenomenon of clouds inspired his creative lens. The fluidity and ever-changing nature of clouds became a metaphor for relationships, identity, and the interconnectedness of life. Drawing from this formative experience, Kim transitioned from interpreting the ephemeral beauty of clouds to transforming them into tangible sculptures through the innovative use of wire mesh, which has become his signature medium.
For over two decades, Kim has employed stainless steel wire mesh to craft sculptural works that embody the fluid and impermanent qualities of clouds. Through folding, welding, and layering the mesh, he creates intricate structures that blur the boundaries between the physical and the imagined. His works, such as Multiple Illusion - Cloud of Recollection (2018) and Happy Cloud (2021), incorporate partial use of color to guide the viewer’s perception, adding depth and accessibility to his abstract forms.
양체_흐르느 경계의 울림 The reverberation of flowing boundaries, 190x220x80cm, stainless steel, welding, paint 2024, Courtesy of the artist's instagram
Kim’s sculptural philosophy hinges on creating dynamic pieces that transcend the static nature of traditional sculpture. By leveraging the interplay of light, shadow, and reflection, his works transform based on the viewer’s perspective and the surrounding environment. The overlapping and moiré patterns of his wire mesh sculptures evoke a sense of perpetual motion and impermanence, mirroring the qualities of the natural world.
The exhibition also features Kim’s experimental works with new materials and techniques, such as dripping paint onto sculptures, intentionally leaving burn marks from welding, and reimagining his metal forms using gray sponges. These innovations are part of his exploration into the "evolution of materials," pushing the boundaries of his artistic practice and challenging traditional notions of medium-specific art.
Kim’s focus on fluidity and interconnectedness is further exemplified in his Porifera series, inspired by the porous structures of sponges. These sculptures reflect the organic absorption and integration seen in natural ecosystems, highlighting the interconnected relationships that form the foundation of life. His works do not merely depict static objects but invite viewers to engage actively with their surroundings, offering shifting perceptions based on proximity, angle, and light.
The poster of the exhibition, Courtesy of Sungmaru Museum of Art
The title Multiplicité reflects the exhibition’s core theme of transcending binary classifications and embracing the coexistence of diverse possibilities. Through his sculptures, Kim seeks to challenge the viewer’s preconceptions and encourage personal interpretation. Each piece becomes a dialogue between the material and the observer, fostering new connections and evolving understandings.
Kim Jae Gak’s sculptures embody Rosalind Krauss’s concept of “expanded fields” in sculpture, bridging the natural and the constructed, the visible and the invisible. His works invite viewers to navigate the delicate balance between presence and absence, continuity and transformation, offering a meditative exploration of the infinite possibilities within finite forms.
The exhibition, supported by the Chungju Cultural and Tourism Foundation, underscores Kim’s contributions to contemporary art as a sculptor who continuously reinvents his medium. By embracing change and innovation, Kim Jae Gak’s Multiplicité presents a compelling vision of the transformative potential of art and its ability to connect disparate elements into a harmonious whole.
Sayart / Nao Yim, yimnao@naver.com
다양체_유닛13 Multiplicite_unit13, Variable combination size, Stainless steel, 2024, Courtesy of the artist's instagram
The Sungmaru Museum of Art in Chungju is hosting Kim Jae Gak’s solo exhibition Multiplicité (다양체) from December 2 to December 10, 2024. This much-anticipated event showcases 18 works that explore the dynamic interplay of materiality, form, and perception, offering audiences an opportunity to engage with the artist’s evolving vision of sculptural art.
Kim Jae Gak’s artistic journey began in the mountainous landscapes of Yeongwol, where the natural phenomenon of clouds inspired his creative lens. The fluidity and ever-changing nature of clouds became a metaphor for relationships, identity, and the interconnectedness of life. Drawing from this formative experience, Kim transitioned from interpreting the ephemeral beauty of clouds to transforming them into tangible sculptures through the innovative use of wire mesh, which has become his signature medium.
For over two decades, Kim has employed stainless steel wire mesh to craft sculptural works that embody the fluid and impermanent qualities of clouds. Through folding, welding, and layering the mesh, he creates intricate structures that blur the boundaries between the physical and the imagined. His works, such as Multiple Illusion - Cloud of Recollection (2018) and Happy Cloud (2021), incorporate partial use of color to guide the viewer’s perception, adding depth and accessibility to his abstract forms.
양체_흐르느 경계의 울림 The reverberation of flowing boundaries, 190x220x80cm, stainless steel, welding, paint 2024, Courtesy of the artist's instagram
Kim’s sculptural philosophy hinges on creating dynamic pieces that transcend the static nature of traditional sculpture. By leveraging the interplay of light, shadow, and reflection, his works transform based on the viewer’s perspective and the surrounding environment. The overlapping and moiré patterns of his wire mesh sculptures evoke a sense of perpetual motion and impermanence, mirroring the qualities of the natural world.
The exhibition also features Kim’s experimental works with new materials and techniques, such as dripping paint onto sculptures, intentionally leaving burn marks from welding, and reimagining his metal forms using gray sponges. These innovations are part of his exploration into the "evolution of materials," pushing the boundaries of his artistic practice and challenging traditional notions of medium-specific art.
Kim’s focus on fluidity and interconnectedness is further exemplified in his Porifera series, inspired by the porous structures of sponges. These sculptures reflect the organic absorption and integration seen in natural ecosystems, highlighting the interconnected relationships that form the foundation of life. His works do not merely depict static objects but invite viewers to engage actively with their surroundings, offering shifting perceptions based on proximity, angle, and light.
The poster of the exhibition, Courtesy of Sungmaru Museum of Art
The title Multiplicité reflects the exhibition’s core theme of transcending binary classifications and embracing the coexistence of diverse possibilities. Through his sculptures, Kim seeks to challenge the viewer’s preconceptions and encourage personal interpretation. Each piece becomes a dialogue between the material and the observer, fostering new connections and evolving understandings.
Kim Jae Gak’s sculptures embody Rosalind Krauss’s concept of “expanded fields” in sculpture, bridging the natural and the constructed, the visible and the invisible. His works invite viewers to navigate the delicate balance between presence and absence, continuity and transformation, offering a meditative exploration of the infinite possibilities within finite forms.
The exhibition, supported by the Chungju Cultural and Tourism Foundation, underscores Kim’s contributions to contemporary art as a sculptor who continuously reinvents his medium. By embracing change and innovation, Kim Jae Gak’s Multiplicité presents a compelling vision of the transformative potential of art and its ability to connect disparate elements into a harmonious whole.
