Korean American artist Christine Sun Kim has officially joined the prestigious roster of Seoul-based Gallery Hyundai, bringing her groundbreaking work that challenges conventional understanding of sound and language. Based in Berlin, Kim draws from her unique personal experience of navigating between signed and spoken languages to question established frameworks and create thought-provoking art that addresses the deaf experience.
Kim's innovative approach brings attention to how sound functions within society while confronting the systematic marginalization of the Deaf community through her diverse artistic practice. Her work spans multiple mediums including drawing, performance, video, and installation art. She skillfully incorporates musical notation, written language, infographics, American Sign Language, and subtle humor as key visual elements throughout her creations.
Reflecting on her experience, Kim once shared a powerful insight about her daily reality: "My life is full of echoes. Almost everything is repeated to me -- through captions, through body language or through interpreters." This perspective deeply influences her artistic vision and helps viewers understand the unique way she experiences and interprets the world around her.
Earlier this year, Gallery Hyundai showcased Kim's notable works "Echo Trap" and "Two Taps Debt 2" during the second part of its significant 55th anniversary exhibition titled "55 Years: A Legacy of Modern & Contemporary Korean Art, Part II." This exhibition highlighted the gallery's long-standing commitment to supporting innovative contemporary artists.
Kim achieved a major milestone in 2024 with her first comprehensive museum exhibition, "Christine Sun Kim: All Day All Night," which was presented at the prestigious Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. This groundbreaking exhibition featured her entire body of work to date, providing visitors with a complete overview of her artistic evolution and creative journey.
According to Gallery Hyundai's official statement, Kim's artistic process involves "translating the forms and rhythms of signing into drawing" as she "visualizes states of thought and emotion, including moments of conflict, fixation, determination and absence with clarity and subtle humor." The gallery emphasized that through these works, she examines how thought and feeling are articulated through movement and spatial relationships, proposing new ways of perceiving and experiencing language and sound beyond the traditional auditory realm.
Looking ahead, Gallery Hyundai plans to unveil Kim's latest creations from her new Mind series at two upcoming high-profile events. The works will be featured in the gallery's upcoming exhibition "Rock, Paper, Scissors: Transformation of Paper" and will also be presented at Art Basel Miami Beach in the United States, scheduled to run from December 3 to 7, providing international audiences with the opportunity to experience her innovative artistic vision.
