Jungin Kim

Jungin Kim’s painting resists simple interpretation. At the core of his practice lies the conviction that “once a painting is reduced to a single interpretation, the dynamics of power begin to assert themselves.” He therefore strives to create ‘open paintings’ that allow for multiple interpretations. By layering seemingly unrelated fragments of memory within a single frame, he invites viewers to lose their way inside the image—and in doing so, imagine their own narrative.

Kim studied Western painting at Mokwon University and earned both his MFA and PhD in painting from the Graduate School of Fine Arts at Hongik University. Kim first gained critical attention in 2021 when he was selected for the ‘Art Lab Project’, an experimental exhibition program hosted by the Lee Ungno Museum. In 2022, Kim was subsequently chosen for the Seoul Museum of Art’s Emerging Artist Support Program and the Open Call at the Sungkok Art Museum, further establishing his presence in the contemporary art scene. Kim’s practice continues to evolve through solo exhibitions at venues such as Ra Heen and SeMA Storage, a project space of the Seoul Museum of Art.

Kim translates his memories onto the canvas by blending and reassembling them in his paintings. He deliberately juxtaposes unrelated photographs, landscapes, and fragments of memory on the canvas like a collage. The resulting scenes defy linear narrative; their resistance to easy readability, in fact, encourages viewers to linger longer before the painting. The artist explains, “Rather than immediately arriving at a fixed meaning from a single image, I hope viewers allow their thoughts to expand freely as they navigate the process of interpretation.”

Jungin Kim recalibrates and reorders reality through his practice. He candidly admits, “Art begins with free thought, but in the end, it must survive within the practical confines of exhibitions and sales.” Even so, he continues to paint because, for Kim, the act of painting is a way to “rearrange the fragmented and indecipherable pieces of reality and discover my own order and rhythm.” For him, painting is not about finding answers, but a practice of wrestling with questions and holding on to sensations.

At this year’s Kiaf, Jungin Kim presents a series of paintings that move fluidly between figuration and abstraction. Yet both bodies of work share a common goal: to withhold clear ‘answers’ and instead offer viewers moments that invite pause and contemplation. As a result, those who stand before his painting often walk away not with conclusions, but with a wealth of open-ended questions. “I hope viewers will discover their distinctive thoughts and sensations in front of each painting,” Kim says.

Analog Spectacle2, Oil on canvas, 181.8×227.3cm, 2024