Ilhwa Kim
lhwa Kim, phot. Laam Yi, courtesy of HWALAAM Studio
Ilhwa Kim (b. 1967, South Korea) creates artworks composed of tens of thousands of individual units. The Korean artist dyes each sheet of paper by hand, using thousands of different colors, then cuts and rolls the layers to make them rigid. This process creates an emotional bond between Kim and every single detail of her work. Not a single element shares the same shape, appearance, or color.
Ilhwa Kim’s mesmerizing paper compositions have earned her four major awards, including The Grand Art Prize, the MANIF Seoul 1999 Excellence Award, and The 16th Grand Art Exhibition of Korea. Her distinctive creative practice has been recognized by The Washington Post, Euronews, and The Financial Times.
Her artworks are part of the permanent collections of the Sungkok Museum (Seoul) and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Seoul). Other significant exhibitions and solo shows include Seed Universe 天下圖 at the Dennos Museum, MI, USA (2016); a solo exhibition at the Seonam Museum, Seoul (1997); Beyond Visibility at Gallery Hue, Singapore; and Seeds of the Universe, Seed System, and Sensory Portrait at the House of Fine Art Gallery in Mayfair, London.
