Soo Kim; Black Sun at Angles Gallery

(She keeps them in her hand) - Photo credit Angles Gallery

         Soo Kim's work is one of my favorite to date, I was really blown away by her pieces. Every once in a great while I'll see a piece I like so much it affects me physically, it's the tingles. I guess brilliance can affect your nervous system.   

         Looking skyward at tree branches with birds in them doesn't seem to have any clear narrative path, but the subject matter evokes a state of daydreaming and at the same time it keeps me drawn in for a long period of time.  The branches that are cut out and fall down inject an element of elegance and unstructured chaos at the same time. I don't know how to interpret it but the outward physicality of the cut out branches keeps me fixated. I've been captivated by art that is so much more complex and blatantly narrative, but this jumble of golden paper cut out and manipulated by gravity does it. 

      There's large amount of respect I have to give to someone who can create a art piece that is very simple but at the same time is sophisticated and captivating.  The fact that Kim did not have to pull out all the tricks out of the hat to make something so eloquent is also a testament to how talented she is. It's simple, there's only one subject matter. It reminds me a bit of Rauchenberg.  

      When looking at this piece I can't help but interject an third party, more specifically a witness to the subject matter.   I don't know if an art piece has ever made me think about that. I think about a fictional person looking up and how they are viewing this world. This person is either lying on their back or looking up with their head tilled up at an angle. And at the same time I feel this person is daydreaming. I think it's really interesting to note that an art piece has never come close to making me think of a fictional 'point of view.' 

(With a burst of laughter) - Photo credit Angles Gallery

        Kim must have wanted to make art work that was more innovative. I would love to know how many different directions she pushed this idea in before being happy with it, I imagine a lot.

Hey is this a variation on scrabble? These are the titles of her work and she has a MFA in film and critical writing.

She keeps them in her hand

Suddenly he seems to make up his mind

Looking at him in surprise

He exits

She is visible trying to find words

A long pause

She extinguishes the last light

The other two smile

With rising exhalation

(He touches them) - Photo credit Angles Galley