Debora Kim
less is more
reviewed by Gary Levinson
Debora Kim in her exhibition less is more presents some of her recent works. These appear at first viewing to be of a certain simplicity: square shapes in various colors, with the beauty lying in the juxtaposition of colors and arrangements.
Getting closer one notices that the pieces are not painted or drawn, but rather woven: each square is covered by fine yarn. This yarn being woven in a parallel fashion, making the squares look as if of one color.
Her first work “Bodies” are square-rods made of woven squares of colors, the positions of which are variable. In the exhibition, they are displayed with a bit of distance between each rod. Ms. Kim has an outstanding eye for colors, and the placement of these was judiciously chosen to compliment the surrounding colors. There are more pink colored squares in the center of the piece with brighter, starker colors at the end. Ms. Kim bases this on traditional Korean culture.
Her second work, also “Bodies” (When I heard the name of the pieces I thought of the Sex Pistols and asked Ms. Kim if there was any relation to the human body. She explained that they are named “Bodies” simply because of their three-dimensional nature.) was my favorite. Sixty-four red, pink and rose squares form a two-dimensional base for the 16 three-dimensional squares set atop them. Like many of Ms. Kim’s works they can be arranged differently in order to best fill the space in which they are exhibited. Ms. Kim explained that the making of just one of the cubes took 9 hours. This is a labor intensive craft!
The third piece “Bodies” has, at first glance, a resemblance to Kazimir Malevich’s “Black Square”. Ms. Kim responded that she found some inspiration in Malevich’s Suprematism theory. When one looks closer however, one notices that this piece, like all the others in the exhibition, is made of finely spun yarn, woven in a parallel pattern over the square. This gives each piece it’s own shade (due to the way the light reflects off the woven pattern), and it’s own direction (depending on the orientation of the weaving). A piece for careful and self reflection.
Another interested piece (“Bodies”) is made up of 20 cubes, woven with different colors. Ms. Kim says that because of space limitations only 16 were used in this exhibition, and that the cubes can be arranged in various configurations depending on the exhibition space. Here they are in two piles of eight cubes.
On the wall behind these works are some works made anterior to her other works. These are interesting tableau-like objects, which at first glance seem to be 2 dimensional graphic sketches, but upon closer examination turn out to be woven of thread. Some of these are quite mesmerizing.
All in all, with this exhibition Debora Kim demonstrates her outstanding feel for color, along with a great sense of of texture, dimension and form. This exhibition is one of the current highlights in Berlin. Not to be missed.
Debora Kim’s exhibition less is more is at the Korea Culture Center in Berlin until June 26th. Admission is free.
Reviewed by Gary Levinson
http://germany.korean-culture.org/navigator.do?menuCode=200712270022&action=VIEW&seq=20245
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