Left: Kohshin Finley, Woman in Scarf, 2021, oil on canvas, 60 x 48 in.; above: Kohshin Finley, A Portrait of the Artist as Himself, oil on canvas, 2022, 24 x 18 in.
OPENING ACT
INTERVIEW BY ESTHER KIM VARET
Kohshin Finley brings LA sensibilities to Texas swagger at Various Small Fires’ new Dallas outpost.
R
eturning to her hometown, Esther Kim Varet will open Various Small Fires’ (VSF) third outpost within The Joule hotel complex, timed to the Dallas Art Fair. Renowned for her galleries in LA and Seoul, here she visits with LA painter Kohshin Finley, a new addition to the VSF roster.
Kohshin Finley. Courtesy of the artist, Various Small Fires, Los Angeles/Dallas, Seoul.
56
PATRONMAGAZINE.COM
Esther Kim Veret (EKV): Kohshin, I am excited to have this interview with you for VSF’s new space opening in Dallas and your solo exhibition in July. I would love to know why Texas is an interesting place in your eyes, on a cultural and personal level, to exhibit your work. Kohshin Finley (KF): I’ve had plenty of friends in the past few years go to Austin and Dallas, uprooting their lives and moving on a whim. I’ve always seen or heard of places like that in Texas as these sanctuaries for new beginnings. So in thinking about having the solo show there— it’s kind of an interesting moment because I know it’s your home and it’s like a homecoming for you. For me it’s a start of a new chapter, and having this show at VSF Dallas and being a part of your story and the gallery’s story also extends my story. EKV: Your work is about personal relationships with friends and family, and you take your camera around with you to capture moments. Could you talk a little bit about family and what it’s meant to you? I would love for you to go into your black-and-white documentary style as well. KF: My parents were fashion designers as I was growing up; the front part of
