Layered and mysterious, her work combines hand drawn figures with machine-cut pierced paper. Her work evokes feelings of memory, decay and fragmentation. Discovery through play is part of her process. She prepares the parts then arranges them until she...
Christine Kim in her studio
Christine Kim is a Korean-Canadian visual artist born in Seoul, South Korea. She holds a BFA from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, a BEd from York University, and a Master of Art Education from the University of Victoria in British Columbia. She lives and works as an artist and arts educator north of Toronto. 1
Layered and mysterious, her work combines hand drawn figures with machine-cut pierced paper. Her work evokes feelings of memory, decay and fragmentation.
Kim says, “‘Fragmentary’ is one word that I return to again and again because I think portraiture is an act of catching glimmers of a person. I like the idea of not being able to see everything. Having multiple layers partially conceals but the patterns of foliage, (which) also act like a kind of shelter.”2
Yellow Moon 2021 Color pencil on layered cut paper
Her mixed media collages are made using handheld and digital tools. She starts with the figure which she draws by hand, using images from fashion photography for reference. An iPad Pro is used to design the intricate custom templates that she uploads to her Silhouette Cameo Two cutting machine.
Discovery through play is part of her process. She prepares the parts then arranges them until she finds a pleasing configuration. “I think it’s this collage process that is the most exciting for me. It’s a creative puzzle that needs to be solved, and each one is unique in its challenges, and there are some that remain unsolved”. 2
In addition to her enigmatic portraits, she produces geometric folded paper models. One installation, Paper Orbs, in collaboration with Marcin Kedzior, was featured during the Nuit Blanche, Toronto 2013. People took paper crowns and paraded through the night in their paper crowns and necklaces.
When she was a child she loved to draw and took art classes in high school. After she graduated she went on to earn a BFA at Queen's University in Canada and an MFA in Art Education at the University of Victoria. She now teaches art at the high school level and exhibits her art in fine art galleries.
All images courtesy of Christine Kim
Pop up Art School’s mission is to introduce children to living, breathing artists. We believe it's important for kids to see that art is being made in the here and now.
Christine Kim is one of the artists that we are featuring in our virtual Art Club for kids. Every four weeks we spotlight a new contemporary artist and families receive three pre-recorded lessons and one lesson taught live via Zoom.
Links
Christine Kim Official Website
Layers of Cut Paper Foliage Fragment Christine Kim’s Collaged Portraits, This Is Colossal post
Gorgeously Intricate Hand-Cut Paper Sculptures, My Modern Met post
Christine Kim’s Instagram account
Resources
1 Christine Kim official website
2 This is Colossal, Grace Ebert, “Layers Cut Paper Foliage Fragment Christine Kim’s Collaged Portraits”, July 8, 2021
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