Ci Kim interprets amusement through construction materials
CHEONAN — A cluster of mannequins covered in cement greet visitors to the Arario Gallery Cheonan. Some mannequins wear bizarre makeup and wigs like clowns, while others wear hats and sunglasses. At the very front stands an anatomical skeleton model in a doctor’s gown. The skeleton has an ID card that says Ci Kim, the artist who created the exhibit.
Ci Kim, also known as Kim Chang-il, is a self-made millionaire entrepreneur, avid art collector and self-taught artist. This is Kim’s ninth solo exhibit, which provides a glimpse of his ever challenging spirit and passion to explore materials around him.
He is known for gathering wealth from running a stall inside a bus terminal in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, and owns a department store, multiplex and art galleries and museums, which generate around 350 billion won in total annually.
Kim is a man of construction. He built the department store as well as three galleries in operation — in Seoul, Cheonan and Shanghai — and museums in Seoul and Jeju Island. His museums have unique atmospheres as he purchased the iconic office building of the Space Architectural Firm and turned it into an art museum and revamped an abandoned cinema house and motels into museums on Jeju.
For his ninth solo exhibit, Kim brought construction materials such as concrete and iron bars into the gallery. “I have built buildings, museums and restaurants and such architectural elements influence my work,” Kim said.
Kim said he was unsociable as a child. “I thought I wouldn’t fit in society because I had this inferiority complex and fear of death. Such thoughts of life and death and being abandoned still affect my work,” he said. “These mannequins were thrown out from the department store. I used cement to give them new life. The skeleton doctor represents me as the artist.”
He previously used unusual art materials such as tomatoes and iron. He pursues natural phenomenon such as rust eating iron or tomatoes rotting in his work.
“Those materials are not perfectly controllable. I think such traits are natural and they go well with me.”
His latest work on canvas reveals the inner structure of the canvas. “It began out of curiosity. I didn’t like my enamel painting on corrugated cardboard and tore it off. When it revealed the ribbing inside the paper, it rather complemented my work,” Kim explained.
So he expanded the art to traditional canvas. However, his thoughts on the identity of art continue. “Is a well made painting a good painting? The torn part reflects my worries, but I don’t want to erase this process out. So I accept them as the end product.”
He also puts much effort in designing the exhibition space. “Exhibition gives depth to the space and it is very different from seeing the artworks in my studio. Displaying my works allows me to experience a whole new space and time,” Kim said.
“For me, art is like a rainbow. It’s beautiful and everyone can see it. I collect art and exhibit it to share the impression of art,” Kim said. “There is no hierarchy or conflict in art. I wish the visitors will enjoy and play with the artworks at my exhibition.”
The exhibit runs through Oct. 15. For more information, visit www.arariogallery.com or call 041-551-5100.