Kim Ji-yeon has been elected as the winner in the art criticism category of the 2024 ‘Shinchunmunye’ Literature and Art Awards sponsored by Chosun Ilbo.

The title of the winning work is < The Racing World, Yet the ‘Being’ Present Here and Now Body. >

“Shinchunmunye” is a term in Korean referring to a literary and artistic competition or award aimed at encouraging and promoting new creative works in literature and art in Korea. The term combines “Shinchun,” which signifies the transition from autumn to winter, and “munye,” encompassing literature and art. Thus, “Shinchunmunye” signifies the beginning of new art and literature in a new season, providing young artists and writers with opportunities for creation and recognizing their achievements.

In her winning piece, Kim states, ‘Connection with the external world, including others, begins from here. However, amidst the rapidly pouring images, sensations, and information in the digital age dominated by advanced media, we have forgotten how to sense the present.’ Kim Ji-yeon’s work serves as a wake-up call to the importance and meaning of the human ‘body’ as a synthesis of pure sensations in an era where cutting-edge media dominates the world.

Kim expressed her gratitude upon winning, stating, “I believe art criticism should function as an independent piece of writing, yet my work is always indebted to the art itself at the beginning. I extend my respect to the artists in the field. I also want to convey deep appreciation and affection to my family, who patiently watched over me as I went on my journey, and to friends and colleagues who steadfastly supported and waited for me.”

Kim Ji-yeon is the recipient of the first edition (2016) of the ‘GRAVITY EFFECT,’ a program by the non-profit space Graphite on Pink dedicated to discovering emerging art critics contributing to the discourse in contemporary Korean art. Furthermore, she is actively engaged in authorship, having published a book titled < Marina’s Gaze >, introducing the life and art of performance artist Marina Abramović (b.1946).

Born in Seoul in 1985, Kim Ji-yeon graduated from Hongik University’s Department of Fine Arts and later obtained a law degree from the Graduate School of Law at Kyungpook National University. Currently, she serves as an editorial board member for the cultural and arts criticism magazine “Critique M.” Kim Ji-yeon contributes to various media outlets, including the international affairs monthly “Le Monde Diplomatique,” the art mook “Gravity Effect,” the cultural archive “PIN,” and the bimonthly magazine “Noblesse Man.” Among her published works are “Marina’s Gaze” (2020), “Twinkling Something” (2022), and “Ordinary Observations” (2020).

References

• [2024 신춘문예] 질주하는 세계, 그럼에도 지금 여기 ‘있는’ 몸