Kim Nam Pyo

Biography

Artist Statement

'My work possesses impromptu and coincidental forces. From the expression of the canvas to the decision of the specific image, I represent on to the canvas, the results of my instant absorption and imagination (..) To me, nature and its landscapes are a figure of constancy, relative to the instant and irregular fragments of uneasiness of this era. But on the other hand, nature is fragile and weak, always the loser in the logics of power. Because of this reason, the animals appearing on the canvas sometimes seem to be so peaceful, sometimes as if they are on guard.'

Kim Nam Pyo (b. 1970) received both his B.A. and M.A. in Painting from Seoul National University. Kim's paintings appear to be super-natural still life depictions of animals, wildlife and various bodies of water intertwined with man-made consumer apparel such as shoes and bags. Deeply influenced by the art of traditional Korean ink painting, Kim pays homage by applying washes of black paint in a calligraphic, gestured manner yet adds a fresh approach by introducing bright bursts of color and applying fake black fur onto the canvas.

Kim's work reveals a unique fusion of traditional Korean ink painting with his own organic and fantastical forms. Much like the meditative works of traditional Eastern ink painters and Western Modern art movements such as Abstract Expressionism, Kim's "instant" works are fluid expressions that are intuitive and not based on preconceived forms or ideas. As Kim puts it, "I like instant and spontaneous methods that lead from one to another, turning my paintings into logical results."

Selected Exhibitions