Namdoo Kim

Namdoo Kim, 〈Homo-Ornamentus〉, 2021, Ceramic, cast glass, gold leaf, 90 x 60 x 30 cm.

Namdoo Kim(Gallery Sklo)

“I wish to speak on the contemporary society driven by consumerist universalism and the desires of contemporary people, their obsoleteness and voluntary sacrifice.

Namdoo Kim graduated with a doctoral degree in glass from the Australian National University in 2022 and started his professional career in art in the United States. His doctoral dissertation focuses on issues derived from the material desires of modern people and their consequences, conveying them through his cynical perspective and satire with glass and ceramics, which are the primary media of his art. Through the artist’s creative exploration and reinterpretation of images of modern people, we are able to reflect on our past and experiences. Kim is among the 33 artists who will be participating in a major exhibition on Korean contemporary art at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in October 2023.

Namdoo Kim, 〈Wanna Be A Superstar II〉, 2018, Cast glass, mixed media, 55 x 25 x 33 cm.

Namdoo Kim, 〈Wanna Be A Superstar I〉, 2018, Cast glass, mixed media, 55 x 25 x 33 cm.

Namdoo Kim’s work focuses on issues of consumerism and the sociological impact of “object desire,” which creates the desire for status and material possessions through persuasive mass media advertising practices and social pressures.

Sign Value points to the mechanisms and underlying forces that drive the contemporary consumer society with icons, materials, and presentation choices that stand as compelling visual representations of things that drive consumption. The work shows a new form of consumption in the contemporary age, in which the value of the intangible symbol of a product is consumed instead of the product itself.

Contemporary Mankind, which is based on preceding projects, is a series involving imaginary human beings. This work examines the veracity and reality of elements in the modern society that we are constantly exposed to and attracted to see, hear, consume, and pursue. These projects explore the true nature and ramifications of the pursuit of happiness and how they are influenced by virtual reality in the contemporary consumer society.

Namdoo Kim, 〈Contemporarian's Mask〉, 2020, Blown glass, gold leaf, 32 x 35 x 35 cm.

Namdoo Kim, 〈Homo-Predatus〉, 2021, Ceramic, automotive paint, gold leaf, silver leaf, 58 x 90 x 62 cm.

Namdoo Kim
 
EDUCATION
2021 Ph.D., Glass, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australiasssss
2015 M.F.A., Glass, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester NY, U.S.A.
2011 B.F.A., Glass & Ceramic, Hong-ik University, Seoul, South Korea
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2022 Automous Zones : Group Exhibition Celebrating 50 years of Pilchuck Glass School, U.S.A.
Breaking Boundaries, group show, Gallery SKLO, Seoul, South Korea
Galleries Art Fair, Gallery SKLO at SETEC, Seoul, South Korea
2021 Kiaf SEOUL, Gallery SKLO, COEX, Seoul, South Korea
Revealing the Invisible, solo show, Gallery SKLO, Seoul, South Korea
Korea Galleries Art Fair, Gallery SKLO at COEX, Seoul, South Korea
2020 KIAF : Korea International Art Fair (virtual exhibition), Gallery SKLO, South Korea
Revealing the Invisible (Ph.D. Solo Exhibition), ANU Gallery, Canberra, Australia
Glass Flex (Studio Glass in Korea), Gallery SKLO, Seoul, South Korea
Collect : International Art Fair for Modern Craft and Design, Gallery SKLO at Somerset House, London, UK
2019 KIAF : Korea International Art Fair, Gallery SKLO at COEX, Seoul, South Korea
Style in Glass II, Gallery SKLO, Seoul, South Korea
Korea Galleries Art Fair, Gallery SKLO at COEX, Seoul, South Korea
Perspective, Red Moon Art Glass Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
The International Exhibition of Glass Kanazawa, Shiinoki Cultural Complex, Kanazawa, Japan
The International Exhibition of Glass Kanazawa, Notojima Glass Art Museum, Notojima, Japan
2018 SOFA Expo : Sculpture Objects Functional Art and Design, Gallery SKLO at SOFA Chicago, IL, United States
Big Awards, CAGE Gallery, Barcelona, Spain
KIAF : Korea International Art Fair, Gallery SKLO at COEX, Seoul, South Korea
Material Imagination : Glass & Ceramics, Gallery SKLO, Seoul, South Korea
International Ceramic & Glass Exhibition, Kastamonu University, Kastamonu, Turkey
National Emerging Art Glass Prize 2018, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, NSW, Australia
2017 2017 Hangzhou International Contemporary Glass Art Exhibition, Craft Museum of CAA, Hangzhou, China
Art in Craft Media 2017, Burchfield Penney Art Center, NY, United States
Random, ANU School of Art Foyer Gallery, Canberra, Australia
Flame on glass 2017, Kirra Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
Small works show (National juried competition), Main street arts gallery,
NY, United States
2016 Emerging Artist in Residency Exhibition, Schack Art Center, WA, United States
International Juried Art Competition & Exhibition, Art Kudos, United States
Three, Alumni Exhibition, Gallery R, NY, United States
The International Exhibition of Glass Kanazawa, Shiinoki Cultural Complex, Kanazawa, Japan
The International Exhibition of Glass Kanazawa, Notojima Glass Art Museum, Notojima, Japan
The Human Figures, Main street arts gallery, NY, United States
2015 Emerging Artist in Residency Exhibition, Pilchuck Glass School, WA, United States
Art in Craft Media 2015, Burchfield Penney Art Center, NY, United States
Refigured (Invitational), Exhibit-A Gallery, NY, United States
Structurally Speaking ( National juried competition ), Main street arts gallery, NY, United States
Invisibilia, 1975 Gallery, NY, United States
Harper College National Juried Exhibition, Harper College Gallery, IL, United States
2014 Small works show ( National juried competition ), Main street arts gallery,
NY, United States
GAS (Glass Art Society) student exhibition, IL, United States
4 in 1 ( Artists in Residence group show ), University Gallery, NY, United States
Naked Glass ( Instructors group show ), Studio 34, NY, United States
2013 8th Cheong-ju International Craft Biennale, Cheong-Ju, South Korea
Convergence ( 2nd Annual juried graduate student exhibition )
University Gallery, NY, United States
Life is Good ( MFA Thesis Solo Exhibition ), Ohringer Gallery, NY, United States
Contemporary 6”x6” Collaborated Exhibition ( Rochester institute of technology & China central academy of fine arts ), NY, United States
GAS (Glass Art Society) international student online exhibition
2012 The Creative Process: from ideation to realization, Gallery R, NY, United States
Meta project 2 (ICFF Evite), NY, United States
2011 Contemporary Ceramic ( Group exhibition ), Seoul Newspaper Company, Seoul, South Korea
2010 BFA Graduation Exhibition, Hong-ik University, Seoul, South Korea
Craft Trend Fair ( Solo Selected Exhibition ), COEX, Seoul, South Korea
Where the Glass Breathes ( Group exhibition ), Gallery Iang, Seoul, South Korea
Art Auction, Hong-ik University, Seoul, South Korea
Jewelry Exhibition ( Group exhibition ), Gallery I-do, Seoul, South Korea
24.7 ( Group exhibition ), State University of Long Beach, CA, United States
2009 The Mixer ( Group exhibition ), State University of Utah, UT, United States
Korea and Japan International Art Exchange (Juried group show),
Hong-ik University, Seoul, South Korea
Twinkle, Twinkle ( Group exhibition ), Gallery Tong-in, Seoul, South Korea
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2016 Artist in Residence (AiR), Corning Museum of Glass, Corning NY, U.S.A.
2015 Emerging Artist in Residence (EAiR), Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood WA, U.S.A.
2013-2016 Artist in Residence, Glass sculpture dept. School for American Crafts, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester NY, U.S.A.
ARTIST LECTURE | SYMPOSIUM | DEMONSTRATION
2019 Glass Works, Canberra ACT, Australia
2018 Glass Works, Canberra ACT, Australia
Night Co. Sydney NSW, Australia
2017 China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China
2016 Corning Museum of Glass, Corning NY, United States
2015 Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood WA, United States
2014 Studio 34, Rochester NY, United States
SERVICE
2011~2016 RIT Glass Program’s Annual Fundraiser, which supports the Glass Programs Visiting Artist/Critic Series and the RIT Women’s Council’s
Scholarships for Women Who’ve Overcome Adversity
2005~2010 Volunteer teaching, at the handicapped children school of Miral Welfare Foundation
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2019 Instructor, Flameworking Workshop, Canberra Glassworks, Canberra ACT, Australia
2018 Lecturer, Glass dept. The Australian National University, Canberra ACT, Australia (Glass casting (Semester 1, 2018))
2016 Instructor, Workshop with Design Team of Samsung Electronic at Corning Museum of Glass, Corning NY, U.S.A.
2013~2016 Instructor, Glass sculpture dept. School for American Crafts, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester NY, U.S.A.
Part-time Instructor, Studio 34, Rochester NY, U.S.A. Flame-working class (Aug 2013 ~)
2011~2013 Teaching Assistant Position, Glass sculpture dept. School for American Crafts, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester NY, U.S.A.
AWARD AND SCHOLARSHIP
2020 Grant for Exclusive Artist, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism & Korea Arts Management Service, South Korea
2019 Selected Award, The International Exhibition of Glass Kanazawa, Japan
2018 Highly Commended, National Emerging Art Glass Prize, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, NSW, Australia
2016 Selected Award, The International Exhibition of Glass Kanazawa, Japan
Merit Award, Art Kudos: International Juried Art Competition & Exhibition, U.S.A.
Full Scholarship Recipient, Corning Museum of Glass, NY, U.S.A.
2015 Full Scholarship Recipient, Pilchuck Glass School, WA, U.S.A.
2014 Honorable Mentions, GAS (Glass Art Society) Conference, IL, U.S.A.
Finalists in Professional, Niche Award 2015, U.S.A.
Full Scholarship Recipient, Penland School of Crafts, NC, U.S.A.
Half Scholarship Recipient , Pilchuck Glass School, WA, U.S.A.
2013 Honorable Mentions, 8th Cheongju International Craft Biennale, South Korea
Finalists in Student, Niche Award 2014, U.S.A.
Honorable Mentions, GAS (Glass Art Society) international student online exhibition
2012 Student Scholarship Recipient, GAS (Glass Art Society) Conference
2010 Honorable Mentions, Seoul Contemporary Ceramic Competition, South Korea
Second Prize, Doll Competition by HAITAI Confectionery & Foods Co., South Korea
2009 Third Prize, Clay Olympics in I-Cheon, South Korea
PUBLICATION
2021 Public Art : Issue No.181 (Oct.2021) – Exhibition Review (P.133)
2020 House Organ (Byuck-San Engineering) – Cover page & Interview : Vol. 46 Winter
2019 Neues Glas Magazine – Cover page : No. 4
Ruminate Magazine – Cover page : Volume 51. ‘Consume’
2016 Art Premium Magazine : Fall 2016 Issue. ‘South Korea Under the Spotlight’
2015 NICHE Magazine : Niche Awards Finalist
2014 NICHE Magazine : Niche Awards Finalist
GAS (Glass Art Society) NEWS : Summer 2014 ‘Identity’, by Karen Donnellan
2013 Democrat and Chronicle News : August 3, 2013, Rochester NY, U.S.A.
COLLECTIONS
2022 Alexander Tutsek-Stiftung, München · Germany
2021 Hanil Cement, South Korea
2019 Byuck-San Engineering, Seoul, South Korea
Sorak Cultural Center, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
2016 Corning Museum of Glass / Studio, U.S.A.
2010 Haitai Confectionery & Foods Co., South Korea
2008 Agatha, South Korea
More Less

Curator: Sookhyun Cho & Aritst: Namdoo Kim

 

Q. Most figures in your works are frowning or look as though they are about to cry. Why don’t they look happy?
The figures in my works are children or teenagers. Their helmets are smaller than their heads and look awfully tight, or they are wearing big round glasses that they don’t seem to want to wear.

They reflect the struggles children and teenagers experience from excessive zeal for education in the society. Also, the glasses represent adults setting reckless goals and constructing a worldview on behalf of them even vefore they can develop their own sense of self, identity, or ability to make judgments.

 
Q. Did you have a hard time during your childhood because of the excessive passion for learning around you?
Yes. (laugh)

I struggled until I entered school, and before I went to study abroad, I had lots of questions about Korean people’s blind desires.

I have been abroad for my studies and work until today, and over all these years, I felt a sense of liberty from seeing people freely pursuing their own values.

“Frame” is a frequent theme in my work. It conveys the desires that Koreans strive to satisfy, their obsolete nature, and the blindness with which people pursue them.

 
Q. I sense cynicim or satirical attitude toward contemporary captalism and desire in your works.
It’s not so much about criticizing desire or capitalism itself—rather, I wish to point out the blindness of people today who only cry out “success, no matter what!” without giving thought to personal reflection and purposefulness about success and achievement. Take for example the craze for real estate in Korea. We see people being blinded by the idea that they need to purchase an apartment no matter what, without a specific reason for their desire and a detailed plan. I wanted to touch on such non-subjectivity.

 
Q. Working with glass isn’t easy, I assume. It isn’t material we often see being used in contemporary art. If glass itself represents something in your work, what might it be?
As we all know, glass is a sensitive material to work with. But that very quality allows me to work with it in whatever way I want, which gives me pleasure. “Desire and ideology that are intangible yet exist” is a theme I work with frequently, and I incorporate this nature of desire in the transparency of glass.

 
Q. Lastly, could you elaborate on Air Walk, which you present in Dialogue? It’s a reproduction of a luxury brand sneaker in gold.
I recreated the luxury sneaker Air Jordan with gold plating. The golden shoe appears fancy and splendid, but the shoe also demonstrates a sense of emptiness as there is nothing in it.

Air Jordan’s shadow cast on the glass pedestal reinforces this theme. In other words, it reflects my questions of why we long Air Jordans so much—if it is their high value that makes us want them or we raise their commercial value because we want them—and my thoughts on these questions.
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