Minjung Kim

Minjung Kim (b. 1996, Korea), studying sculpture at the Royal College of Art, tries to explore the most meaningful catharsis based on anguish and turmoil. Through her work, Minjung encourages individuals to confront their own anguish and turmoil, acknowledging and embracing these emotions as an essential part of the human experience. Rather than shying away from discomfort, she recognizes the transformative power that comes from engaging with with these feelings.

Awards

2022

Shortlisted for the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation’s Wildlife Artist of the Year 2022 exhibition in association with BBC Wildlife

2018

Special Selection Award, a contest held by “The Korean Figurative Sculpture Association”

2017

An award granted by the Minister of Defense, 1st place in the sculpture sector of an art contest held by “The Ministry of National Defense”

Exhibitions

2023

'Hung, Drawn, Quartered' at Set Standpoint Gallery (02.2023)

2022

'We Won't Stop Showing' at Set Woolwich (02.2022)

2021

'Relationship' at Seoul Cultural Foundation White Room (06.2021)

2018

Exhibition at Mapo Art Center (11.2018~12.2018)

2017 - 2018

A Traveling Exhibition at Independence Hall of Korea (11.2017), National Chuncheon Museum (12.2017), and Yanggu Humanities Museum(12.2017~01.2018)

The process of creating art is deeply intertwined with Minjung's emotional journey. She often experiences a strong sensation of pain and sadness during her artistic process, and she recognized this could serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of being honest with ourselves and embracing the full spectrum of our emotional experiences. Therefore, Minjung finds catharsis in transforming the emotional weight she carries into tangible artwork. The act of creating indescribable figures and sharing them with others brings her pleasure, even as it demands that she confront and overcome chaos and anguish daily as so many of us do.

In society, there is often an undue emphasis on pursuing happiness at the expense of acknowledging and embracing negative emotions. However, Minjung firmly believes that all emotions serve a purpose and we need to find fresh language and representations to destigmatise them, and find a way to work with and through them.

ImPerfect – The work suggests a paradoxical situation where communication may lead to the activation of the guillotine, effectively silencing people's voices. Therefore, the juxtaposition of restraints, the guillotine, and the mask in the artwork could create a powerful tension between the innate human desire for self-expression and the potential consequences or fears associated with speaking out.

Medium:

Mixed Media

Size:

165x150x40cm

Silent Scream – Society often lacks clear guidance on how to navigate and respond to painful situations, which can contribute to a sense of confusion and the suppression of one's authentic voice. So, this work represents the conflict between nature and reason, highlighting the tendency to disconnect from our true voices. Therefore, it is a work that commemorates the true voice that many individuals have unconsciously lost.

Medium:

Mixed Media

Size:

300x50x50cm

loss memory trace transformation voice

Revealers – Revealer is an archive that encompasses a collection of small works. Its purpose is to visually portray the conflict between stress and expression. Within this collection, the work aims to use negative emotions to deliver a fresh shock and maintain a sense of vitality. While some may perceive it as unconventional to preserve pain, anguish, and confusion, I personally find satisfaction in revealing the raw horrors, violence, and self-destructive emotions that stem from these feelings.

Medium:

Mixed Media

Size:

140x100x100cm

conflicts emotional expression relationship

Minjung Kim

Awards

Exhibitions

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Royal College of Art