Partial installation view of Keem Jiyoung’s solo exhibition "Scattering Breath" at P21, Seoul. Photo by Euirock Lee.P21 presents a solo exhibition “Scattering Breath” by Keem Jiyoung through November 19.
Painting candlelight has become Keem Jiyoung’s (b. 1987) primary interest since 2020. At first sight, Keem’s paintings may resemble abstract color field paintings because of their flat, solid hue spread across the canvas. Yet her works are not exactly abstract as she depicts the color of the light source emanating from a candle’s wick and its surroundings with careful observation.
The walls of one of the galleries are filled with small paintings of candle flames. Each flickering candlelight is expressed in different focus, size, and angle. They remind us of the different luminescent glows of the sunset. But when observing the whole gallery wall, each row of the paintings appears to be a collage of interconnected candle flames.
Partial installation view of Keem Jiyoung's solo exhibition "Scattering Breath" at P21. Photo by Aproject Company.In Korea, candles represent collective gatherings, especially after the Candlelight protests in 2016 and 2017. Keem was greatly influenced by these social incidents, and as a result, she sought out ways to face and document these issues and violence coming from social structures through her paintings. Yet her works convey not only social messages but also personal ones. Candle flames that have different temperatures and hues also illuminate the lives of individuals in various shapes and colors. Keem attempts to reflect the finite nature of life without fear of death to emphasize the uniqueness of every life.
Keem Jiyoung has had solo exhibitions at Wess (2020, Seoul), Sansumunhwa (2018, Seoul), Onewwall (2015, Seoul), SongEun (2021, Seoul), Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art (2021, Ansan), National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (2019, Gwacheon), Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong (2020, Hong Kong), Boan 1942 (2019, Seoul), Art Space Pool (2017, Seoul), etc. In addition, Kim Jiyoung was selected as a resident artist for Geumcheon Art Factory (2022), Incheon Art Platform (2021), the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Goyang Residency (2020), and SeMA Nanji Residency (2019).
