In the work presented in the exhibiton "Fly to India for Gold, Ransack the Ocean for Orient Pearl", Kyungmi Shin delves into a captivating exploration of interconnected narratives, seamlessly intertwining the histories of Germany and Asia. At the core of her artistic endeavor is a meticulous layering of diverse elements, drawing inspiration from the rich tapestry of cultural exchanges. In an age of discussions over cultural appropriation Shin’s work is exemplary of cultural appreciation. She is able to sensitively and creatively create meaningful dialogue on intercultural exchange reflecting much older global intercultural interactions.
Vernissage
Saturday, 13 January, 6 – 9 pm
Artist Talk
Wednesday, 14 February, 6:30pm
68projects by KORNFELD is pleased to announce the opening of the exhibition Fly to India for Gold, Ransack the Ocean for Orient Pearl by Kyungmi Shin on January 13, 2024.
In the works presented in Berlin, Kyungmi Shin explores interconnected narratives that seamlessly intertwine the histories of Germany and Asia. At the core of her artistic practice is a meticulous layering of diverse elements, drawn from the rich tapestry of cultural exchange. In an age marked by debates around cultural appropriation, Shin’s work exemplifies cultural appreciation. By juxtaposing elements from different cultures—some unfamiliar to her—she creates sensitive and meaningful dialogues on intercultural exchange, reflecting much older global cultural interactions.
Shin’s work centers on the extensive porcelain collection of Augustus the Strong in Dresden, comprising approximately 29,000 objects and now housed in the Staatliche Kunstsammlung Dresden. During her time in Germany in 2022, Shin photographed these porcelain objects and incorporated them into her works for this exhibition.
Her artistic process involves working with photo-editing software. She scans images of chinoiserie wallpapers—evoking Europe’s historical fascination with an imagined Far East—and digitally overlays them with photographs of porcelain objects from the Dresden collection. Before printing, Shin digitally paints a third layer depicting mythological figures from Korean culture. After printing, she applies acrylic paint over the digital line drawings. This layered technique juxtaposes and weaves together different narratives, resulting in visually compelling and conceptually rich compositions.
In Shin’s visual language, the bottom layer features chinoiserie wallpapers representing a European fantasy of East Asian landscapes, largely produced in Chinese workshops during the 18th and 19th centuries. The middle layer presents porcelain objects—embodiments of Chinese inventiveness adapted to European aesthetics. The top layer introduces line drawings of authentic yet fantastical Asian imagery, incorporating powerful mythological creatures from Korean folklore.
The artist’s choice of format—a traditional Korean landscape—adds another layer of meaning. The juxtaposition of fantastical Asian landscapes within oval shapes reminiscent of European portraiture, alongside elongated vertical formats characteristic of Korean landscape painting, highlights the complexity of cultural hybridity.
Through her work, Shin examines the interconnectedness of the world and questions how the movement of goods, objects, and capital shapes perception. Her practice reflects on historical power dynamics and critiques the ways in which the Western world has profited from the rest of the globe. As a Korean artist living in the United States, Shin navigates her own multifaceted cultural identity while focusing on multiplicity, complexity, and hybridity rather than fixed power hierarchies.
Engaging with her surroundings in Germany, Shin also reflects on European history and its perception of Asia. She traces the roots of the exoticization of other cultures back to Europe, inviting viewers to consider the intricate connections linking diverse narratives across time and space.
KORNFELD Galerie Berlin welcomed Kyungmi Shin as a fellow of the Villa Aurora & Thomas Mann House Berlin, in collaboration with 68projects by KORNFELD, on October 17, 2023. She lived and worked in Berlin until the end of November, engaging with the local art scene and developing artistic exchanges that culminated in this solo presentation at 68projects by KORNFELD.
Born in Busan, South Korea, Kyungmi Shin grew up in a region traditionally associated with Buddhism, as the daughter of a Calvinist Christian minister. Her later emigration to the United States marked a formative chapter in her life and artistic development. This transcontinental experience continues to shape her work, reflecting the coexistence of multiple cultural and religious influences and her ongoing exploration of identity, faith, and race.
Kyungmi Shin is a visual artist working across painting, sculpture, and photography. She earned her MFA from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1995. Her work has been exhibited at major institutions including the Berkeley Art Museum, the Sonje Art Museum (Korea), the Japanese American National Art Museum (Los Angeles), and the Torrance Art Museum (California), and is held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). She has completed more than 20 public artworks, including a video sculpture installed at Netflix headquarters in Hollywood in 2018. She is represented by Various Small Fires, Los Angeles / Dallas / Seoul.
