Instant Landscape

Instant Landscape ● Since his early stage, Nampyo Kim (Korea, 1970 - ) had been continuously 'attaching' materials onto the canvas. Sometimes he created a shaped canvas, sometimes metal was a necessity. This all started so as not to fall into the trap of 'expression for expression'. ● Nampyo Kim attended art middle school and high school. Compared to the normal high school graduates who came to major Fine arts in the University, art school graduates excelled in artistic expressions. This meant that they could brag about their skills, hence being very fragile to be caught in his/her own snare, distracting oneself not to concentrate on the content/ context of the work itself. ● To stop pursuing the form of expression and to dig into the meaning/ origin of the art itself, Nampyo Kim chose to stop at a certain point even if the work seemed unfinished and sometimes attached different materials so as to redistribute his attention. ● The marginal white and different materials / shapes shown in Nampyo Kim's early works are the result of his struggle to concentrate on the art it self. Such endeavor experienced him in employing unconventional objects and although he was most comfortable in using acrylic, oil and charcoal, he was quiet unafraid in indulging in diverse aspects. Until the 19th Century, artistic expressions were 'imprisoned' in specific styles, but even after the start of Modernism much still seeked comfort in the safety zone of style. Nampyo Kim is different. He is extending his style and structure; hence he is extending his own world.

김남표_Instant Landscape-girl #1_Artificial fur and charcoal on canvas_181×227cm_2009

Instant Landscape - Fur Canvas ● In 2006, Nampyo Kim started to work with artificial fur-covered-canvas. Pressing / picking light and sharp objects such as needles onto the surface, Nampyo Kim started creating landscapes on the canvas. But before fixating the surface, a person could accidently / deliberately erase the surface off the canvas, hence removing the scene - in which the artist started to name his works 'Instant Landscapes'. ● But we must acknowledge that what Nampyo Kim wants to show and concentrate in the term 'instant' is the method, not the meaning or the context in the work. Even just using a single needle, fantastical scenes are portrayed, in which objects and settings from varying times and places co-exist... trees growing from the water's surface and a zebra standing inside a high-heeled shoe. Diverse materials and methods tended to expand the range and ability of his artistic expression and to research/ experiment the core of his interest in art.

김남표_Instant Landscape-shoes #3_Artificial fur and charcoal on canvas_130×324cm (다폭화 diptych)_2009

Instant Landscape ● To Nampyo Kim, the meaning of 'instant' can be gathered into 2 significant aspects. One is its instantaneous features and one is its non-predictability. ● Mainly using charcoal and (at the same time) a variety of unusual materials - such as artificial fur, threads and fur balls, his works can be interpreted as Surrealist in style and at the same time, imbued with Eastern sensibility. ● From abstract patches of fur (sometimes this can be very decorative in style) he starts the painting. The most fascinating thing about Nampyo Kim's work is that there is no rough sketch, no planning when starting. Surrounded by approx 5~ 10 white canvas, the artists puts the fur onto the canvas. Sometimes it is a mere patch, sometimes it is quiet decorative, combining different colour/ texture of fur. And from the attachment, the work starts to form itself. I call this method, the stream of consciousness. ● As written in the dictionary, the stream of consciousness refers to the flow of thoughts in the conscious mind. The full range of thoughts that one can be aware of can form the content of this stream, not just verbal thoughts. ● By mentioning the term stream of consciousness, you are referring to that it is a way to express ones thoughts and ideas as they occur, rather than in a structured way. In many ways it lacks consistency but at the same time, diverse and complex ideas pop up unexpectedly. Such thought are not related and has no logical relationships. For example when seeing a glass of milk, you can think of school lunch-time, then suddenly you think of a nice clock you want to buy... we don't always think straight. ● Nampyo Kim employs such method in his work - combining the association of ideas he meets while processing his painting,

김남표_Instant Landscape-parrot #1_Artificial fur and charcoal on canvas_130×162cm_2009

In the sense of the rationalized logic of the Westernized world, everything must have a reason. The surface needs to be filled and arranged in the order of gravity and reason in this 3-dimentional world. This actually means that it is quiet impossible to station the objects freely without damaging the long preserved matrix. On the other hand, the Eastern ideology is more sensitive, abstract and idealistic. Eastern ideology expresses the thought of the present using more spiritual images. ● Nampyo Kim uses the Western expression method and technique but uses his Eastern view hence resulting in the fading of the object and the marginal space. ● Nampyo Kim does not argue on the merits or what is better (the West or the East). He is continuously exploring the way to unite the two somewhat separate worlds using his unique ideas. ● Nampyo Kim presents various animals and birds in his works. When one seems to be keen on animals, others sometimes interpret that the artist is a nature loving, criticizing the civilization….. This is not the case as shoes, bags are equally shown. Nampyo Kim efforts to unite the two world (materialism and immaterialism) as well. ● ….. A zebra stands on top of a book, ducks are paddling inside a shoe... Nampyo Kim's landscape, objects and fur coexist inside the surface. The association of diverse images creates imaginative scenes creates his own story. A waterfall breaks our suddenly from the back of a zebra and the mountain peaks suddenly turns in to horse heads...

김남표_Instant Landscape-shoes #4_Artificial fur and charcoal on canvas_130×193cm_2009

Zhuang-zi, an influential Chinese philosopher who lived around the 4th century wrote about a butterfly, the famous "Zhuang-zi dreamed he was a butterfly" ... Once Zhuang-zi dreamt he was a butterfly, a butterfly flitting and fluttering around, happy with himself and doing as he pleased. He didn't know he was Zhuang-zi. Suddenly he woke up and there he was, solid and unmistakable Zhuang-zi. But he didn't know if he was Zhuang-zi who had dreamt he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he was Zhuang-zi. Between Zhuang-zi and a butterfly there must be some distinction! This is called the Transformation of Things. (2, tr. Burton Watson 1968:49) ● This hints at many questions in the philosophy of mind, language, epistemology and Nampyo Kim's works as well. It indicates that through confusion of what is real and what is surreal, Nampyo Kim is speaking out that it is not that important to 'realize what is true'. ■ Chrisi Choi

Vol.20090518g | 김남표展 / KIMNAMPYO / 金南杓 / painting