In
celebration of its 125th anniversary, Keimyung University established the
Keimyung Art Prize to enhance the social standing of culture and the arts and
to support promising emerging artists. The Keimyung Art Prize is divided into
the Keimyung Art Prize in the field of visual arts and the Keimyung Sindongjip
Literature Prize in the field of poetry, with recipients selected and awarded
biennially.
For the
inaugural Keimyung Art Prize, artist Seoul Kim (male, age 36) has been
selected. After majoring in painting at Kookmin University, Kim was chosen for
the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture’s First Art Support program (2019,
2022) and has presented his work in various exhibitions both domestically and
internationally. He introduces himself as a visual art practitioner and has
consistently pursued experimental research grounded in precise conceptual
inquiry rather than vague romantic notions of art. His practice involves
multifaceted exploration within long-standing questions of color, space, and
material.
In his work to date, he has deeply and meticulously examined
fundamental artistic materials—such as brushes, pigment, canvas, and frames—not
only as tools of art-making but as industrially produced, distributed, and
consumed materials that function as socio-cultural codes. Through this
perspective, his work proposes new criteria for the classical and traces an
evolving journey of creation. In 2019, following a decade-long investigation
into oil paint as a medium, he held his first solo exhibition at Art Delight.
He has also participated in exhibitions at BOL Gallery in Singapore (2023),
Gallery KICHE (2023), IBK Art Station (2022), Eulji Art Center (2022), Ammi
Museum (2021), among numerous other group exhibitions.
The
selection process for the Keimyung Art Prize was conducted through a fair and
rigorous recommendation and evaluation procedure to identify an artist aligned
with the values and philosophy of the Keimyung Art Prize.
Recommenders—appointed from directors and curators of art institutions
nationwide, professors of fine art, and members of the Korean Fine Arts
Association—nominated eleven candidates. Eligibility was limited to emerging
artists of Korean nationality under the age of 40, with at least one solo
exhibition at the time of nomination.
The
evaluation was conducted in two rounds. In the first round, four candidates
were selected through document review, including ten representative works from
solo exhibitions held within the past three years. In the second round, two
finalists were chosen based on in-person evaluation of artworks and interviews.
The final recipient was determined by the Keimyung Art Prize Committee. The
jury consisted of five members, excluding any affiliates of the nominees:
Professor Sim Sang-yong of Seoul National University College of Fine Arts;
Professor Ko Seok-won of Pusan National University; Kim Seok-mo, Director of
Solol Museum of Art; Kim Yun-hee, Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Keimyung
University; and Professor Jang Tae-muk of the Department of Painting at
Keimyung University.
Over the two rounds of evaluation, Kim’s work was
described as appearing as “passionate abstraction,” yet distinguished by
rational control discernible in the intervals between colors, traces of
restraint and deliberate movement, analytical engagement with materials, and an
experimental spirit in compositional structure. Jury Chair Professor Sim
Sang-yong commented, “Although Seoul Kim’s work appears as passionate
abstraction, one can glimpse a rational control in the spaces between colors,”
adding, “The traces of restraint and planned movement, the analytical approach
to materials, and the compositional discipline all highlight his experimental
spirit.”
The award
includes a commemorative plaque, a prize of 10 million KRW, and a solo
exhibition at the Keimyung University Geukjae Museum. The award ceremony is
scheduled for May 29, and the exhibition will be held from May 27 to June 1,
2024, at the Black Gallery of the Geukjae Museum on the Keimyung University
campus.
Kim Yun-hee,
Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Keimyung University, stated, “Seoul Kim’s
work is highly regarded for its innovative artistic perspective, distinctive
expressive techniques, and immense potential for future development. His deep
investigative spirit and artistic expression suggest that, at this moment when
the scope and influence of Korean contemporary art continue to expand, he may
carry forward the achievements and spirit of Geukjae Jeong Jeom-sik, a master
of Korean abstract painting. We will continue to discover emerging artists who
build independent realms of practice through experimental challenges while
remaining grounded in essential values.”
