KIM JOONSOMEBODY
KIM JOONSOMEBODY
GALLERY MISSION Established in 2000, Sundaram Tagore Gallery is devoted to examining the exchange of ideas between Western and non-Western cultures. We focus on developing exhibitions and hosting not-for-profit events that encourage spiritual, social and aesthetic dialogues. In a world where communication is instant and cultures are colliding and melding as never before, our goal is to provide venues for art that transcend boundaries of all sorts. With alliances across the globe, our interest in cross-cultural exchange extends beyond the visual arts into many other disciplines, including poetry, literature, performance art, film and music.
SUNDARAM TAGORE CHELSEA PRESENTS
WORK BY KOREAN ARTIST Kim Joon, one of Korea’s most notable emerging artists, introduces Somebody, a series of digital prints that explores the complicated, often contradictory relationship between body and mind. In addition to this new work, a selection of pieces from Kim’s previous series will also be on view.
KIM JOON
the body as canvas to introduce bold pattern and vivid color. He deconstructs the human form like never before, creating frenetic compositions of fragmented body parts so abstract they require close examination to identify. The exhibition will also showcase works from earlier series:
Kim, who is based in Seoul, explores themes of desire, memory, fragility and obsession using digitally rendered tattoos, porcelain, animal skins and human body parts. A master of the computer software 3D Studio Max, Kim successfully juxtaposes traditional Asian motifs, Western Pop references and luxury brand logos. In the new series Somebody, Kim examines the universal desire to transcend the limitations and imperfections of the body. He revisits familiar visual themes, including tattoos, exotic skins and Pop culture imagery, using 6
Bird Land (2009), one of Kim’s most noted series, raises questions about consumerism using tattoos as a metaphor for the hidden desires engraved onto the human consciousness. He covers digitally rendered nude bodies with bold logos from luxury brands such as Ferragamo, Montblanc and Vivienne Westwood, forming a surreal landscape reflecting society’s weakness for material objects. With the series Fragile (2010) and Drunken (2011), Kim turned his attention to porcelain-like human figures, instead
of the more naturalistic tattooed bodies he’d become known for. His porcelain figures are hollow, missing limbs, and above all, imperfect—a recurring theme in his work. Blue Jean Blues (2012) explores desire, memory and youth, once again using images in porcelain. Fabricating compositions out of tableware, fragments of idealized nudes and objects of Western Pop culture including guitars, cars and guns, Kim alludes to nostalgic obsessions and attachments.
rendered images depict islands made of fragmented human bodies overlaid with exotic animal skins. Kim Joon was born in 1966 in Seoul. His works have been exhibited at the Saatchi Gallery, London (where his work was featured on the cover of Korean Eye: Contemporary Korean Art, the book accompanying an exhibition of the same name); the Total Museum, Seoul; The National Museum of Contemporary Art, Kwachon, Korea; the Gwangju Biennale, Korea; and the National Taiwan Museum.
In Island (2013), the artist examined the volatile relationship between people and nature. This dramatic shift away from tattoos and luxury was spurred by two events: the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, which happened close to Kim’s home, and a visit to the volcanic island of Jeju, considered one of the most beautiful and mystical in Korea. Kim’s stunningly 7
Bird Land-Lacoste, 2013, digital print, 47 x 82.7 inches/120 x 210 cm
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Bird Land-American Eagle, 2008, digital print, 47 x 47 inches/120 x 120 cm 10
Bird Land-Aerosmith, 2008, digital print, 47 x 47 inches/120 x 120 cm 11
Cradle Song-Vivienne Westwood, 2009, digital print, 63 x 31 inches/160 x 79 cm
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Lee, Sang Bong, 2009, digital print, 39.4 x 39.4 inches/100 x 100 cm
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Ebony-Balenciaga, 2008, digital print, 47 x 47 inches/120 x 120 cm 16
Ebony-Tiger, 2013, digital print, 47 x 47 inches/120 x 120 cm 17
Fragile-Chunhyang on the Limoges, 2010, digital print, 39.4 x 55.1 inches/100 x 140 cm 18
Fragile-Royal Copenhagen, 2010, digital print, 39.4 x 55.1 inches/100 x 140 cm 19
Golden Hour-Dom PĂŠrignon, 2011, digital print, 47.5 x 76 inches/120.5 x 193 cm
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Fragile-Adam & Eve, 2010, digital print, 82.7 x 47 inches/210 x 120 cm 22
Drunken-Moutai, 2013, digital print, 82.7 x 47 inches/210 x 120 cm 23
Drunken-Johnnie Walker, 2011, digital print, 47 x 82.7 inches/120 x 210 cm
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Red Bubble 2, 2012, digital print, 39.4 x 39.4 inches/100 x 100 cm 26
Red Bubble 1, 2012, digital print, 39.4 x 39.4 inches/100 x 100 cm 27
Blue Jean Blues-Playboy, 2012, digital print, 23.6 x 23.6 inches/60 x 60 cm
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Blue Jean Blues-Easy Rider, 2012, digital print, 82.7 x 47.2 inches/210 x 120 cm
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Island-Alligator, 2013, digital print, 35.4 x 82.7 inches/90 x 210 cm
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Island-Turtle, 2013, digital print, 63 x 39.4 inches/160 x 100 cm 34
Island-Shell 2, 2013, digital print, 47.2 x 29.5 inches/120 x 75 cm 35
Island-Snake, 2013, digital print, 35.4 x 82.7 inches/90 x 210 cm
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Green Day 1, 2014, digital print, 39.4 x 39.4 inches/100 x 100 cm
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Somebody 5, 2014, digital print, 47.2 x 47.2 inches/120 x 120 cm 40
Somebody 4, 2014, digital print, 39.4 x 39.4 inches/100 x 100 cm 41
Somebody 1, 2014, digital print, 35.4 x 82.7 inches/90 x 210 cm
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Somebody 9, 2014, digital print, 63 x 39.4 inches/160 x 100 cm 44
Somebody 10, 2014, digital print, 63 x 39.4 inches/160 x 100 cm 45
Somebody 3, 2014, digital print, 35.4 x 82.7 inches/90 x 210 cm
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Somebody 6, 2014, digital print, 39.4 x 39.4 inches/100 x 100 cm
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Somebody 13, 2014, digital print, 39.4 x 39.4 inches/100 x 100 cm
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CURRICULUM VITAE Born in Seoul, South Korea, 1966 EDUCATION BA Painting, Hongik University, Seoul MA Painting, Hongik University, Seoul SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 52
Somebody, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York Moutai, Space Can, Beijing Island, Gallery Leebae, Busan Blue Jean Blues, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York Blue Jean Blues, art link, Seoul Fragile, Canvas International Art, Amsterdam Drunken, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Hong Kong Drunken, Artlink Gallery, Seoul Fragile, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York Tattoo and Taboo, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Beverly Hills, Tattoo and Taboo, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Hong Kong Tattoo and Taboo, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York Bird Land, Sabina Lee Gallery, Los Angeles Kim Joon, Box Art Gallery, Verona, Italy Duet et Party, Galerie Bertin-Toublanc, Paris and Miami Stay, Space 355, Tokyo Party, Touch Art, Heiri, Korea
2006 2005 2003 2000 1999 1998 1997 1995 1994
Duet, Canvas International Art Gallery, Amsterdam Tattoo You, Alexander Ochs Galleries, Berlin Tattoo You, Walsh Gallery, Chicago Tattoo You, Savina Museum, Seoul Flesh Park, June & Ttl Zone, Seoul Sauna Bell, Ilju Art House, Seoul Make Me Smile! Gallery Uduck, Seoul Fire, Total Museum, Seoul Hair Show, Gallery Sal, Seoul Tattoo in My Mind, Kumho Museum, Seoul Tattoo, Gallery Segae, Seoul I Love It!, Gallery Yale, Seoul I Love It!, Gallery Insa, Seoul
GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2014 2013 2011 2010 2009
Natural Selection, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Hong Kong Natural Selection, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York Home and the World, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Singapore Spectrum: east/West/Beyond, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Hong Kong Continuum, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Hong Kong Rasa: Contemporary Asian Art, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Beverly Hills New Creative Constructions, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York Korean Eye: Moon Generation, Saatchi Gallery, London Conditions of Being—As of Now, Korean Cultural Service, Beijing From Younhee Dong Yhd, Seoul
2008 2007 2006
Paris Photo, Keumsan Gallery, Paris Pop & Pop, Seongnam Art Center, Seongnam, Korea Scope Basel, Sun Contemporary, Basel Border of Virtuality—Korean and Chinese Media Art Now, Han Ji Yun Contemporary Space, Beijing Art HK, Keumsan Gallery, Hong Kong Photo...Photo?, Sun Contemporary, Seoul Being Now, Gallery Soheon, Daegu, Korea World-Beaters, Gallery Soheon, Daegu, Korea Asian Art Biennial, National Taiwan Museum Ocultos, Fundacion Canal, Madrid Field of Life, California State University, Sacramento New Asian Waves, Zkm Museum of Contemporary Art, Karlsruh, Germany Text in Body Space, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul Giant in Illusion, Sejong Museum, Seoul Intermediae-Minbak, Matadero Madrid, Madrid Arco, Gallery Hyundai, Madrid Paris Photo, Gallery Hyundai, Paris Made in Korea, Paris, Annecy, France Hybrid Traend-India & Korea, Hangaram Art Museum, Seoul Art & Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing Spotlight 30 Women, Paper Gallery, Seoul Asia Art Now, Ssamzie Space, Seoul Softness, Soma Museum, Seoul Isea, South Hall, San Jose, California Art/37/Basel, Gallery Hyundai, Basel Contemporary Asian Art, Bonhams, London
2005 2004 2003 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996
Kunstrai/Art Amsterdam, Amsterdam Endless Clone, Space Ieum, Art Beijing, Beijing Toronto International Art Fair Art Cologne Art Forum Berlin Asia: The Place to Be?, Alexander Ochs Galleries, Berlin, Cosmo Cosmetic, Space C, Seoul Pop, Pop, Pop, Gana Art Gallery, Seoul Love Virus, Art Center Nabi, Cyworld, Seoul Gwangju Biennale Minority, Gwangju, Korea Inked, Walsh Gallery, Chicago Realing 15 Years, Savina Museum, Seoul Relative Reality, Walsh Gallery, Chicago Resfest Digital Film Festival, Seoul Crossing 2003; Korea/Hawaii, Koa Gallery, Hawaii Exhibition of the Artists of Seoul in France, Gallery Artitude, Paris Gwangju Biennale Scar, Gwangju Folklore Museum, Gwangju, Korea Ocean Art Festival, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Seoul Taboo-Brutality, Violence & Fantasy, Total Museum, Seoul Money, Money, Money, Savina Museum, Seoul Humans and the Doll, Total Museum, Seoul Korea Underground Cartoon Festival, Kumho Museum, Seoul Body as Text, Kumho Museum, Seoul Young Venture 96, National Museum, Gwacheon, Korea Asia Pacific Triennale, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane
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SUNDARAM TAGORE GALLERIES new york new york hong kong singapore
547 West 27th Street, New York, NY 10001 • tel 212 677 4520 fax 212 677 4521 • gallery@sundaramtagore.com 1100 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10028 • tel 212 288 2889 57-59 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong • tel 852 2581 9678 fax 852 2581 9673 • hongkong@sundaramtagore.com 01-05 Gillman Barracks, 5 Lock Road, Singapore 108933 • tel 65 6694 3378 • singapore@sundaramtagore.com
President and curator: Sundaram Tagore Director, New York: Susan McCaffrey Director, Hong Kong: Faina Derman Designer: Russell Whitehead www.sundaramtagore.com
Art consultants: Teresa Kelley Bonnie B. Lee Sarah Miller Deborah Moreau Benjamin Rosenblatt Raj Sen Melanie Taylor
Text © 2014 Sundaram Tagore Gallery Images © Kim Joon All rights reserved under international copyright conventions. No part of this catalogue may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any other information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. Cover: Somebody 3 (detail), 2014, digital print, 35.4 x 82.7 inches/90 x 210 cm Mission page: Somebody 17 (detail), 2014, digital print, 27.6 x 27.6 inches/70 x 70 cm