In recent years, the reoccurring themes in my work dealt with histories of individual and collective experiences, distorted and manipulated memories, altered perceptions of the world through intergenerational transferring of values, the notion of truth, and sense of time. Transgenerational trauma (especially lived experiences of divorce, displacement, poverty and class divide), fragmented memory, distorted identity, contrasting sociocultural norms, were a constant source of narratives contextualizing the use of the human face and body as the place which holds the traces of human experience.
While returning to and staying at home during the pandemic, I was triggered by two sources: a found photograph of myself as a child chasing after my mother, whom I have no memory of, and the Korean word ‘han’ that translates as ‘shared suffering’ or a longing of a person or place that one once knew. Both have to do with a gap formed by the distance of physical reach, duration of separation, fading or erasure of memory, silenced storytelling and fragmented truths. Existing, understanding, transforming and enduring the space of the gap could be the shared experience of those who live between family members, two or more cultures, languages, systems of beliefs, values and traditions. Through various methods of research and process work, I intend on continuing to face the gap in identity, plurality, vision, transcendence of time and decentralized positions, in order to find multiple meanings and interpretations, creating space for radicality. 2021
Mihyun Maria Kim is an interdisciplinary artist and painter, presently based in Tkaronto/ Toronto (CA), working with various materials to explore figuration and narration, focused on the body, human experience and forms of storytelling. She has been a resident artist with AKIN X Collision Gallery (2020) and the Mississauga Living Arts Centre (2018-2019), while pursuing further studies at OCAD University. During her three years in Europe (2017-2019), she participated and worked for international artist residencies in Paris, Barcelona, Sevilla, Leipzig, and has co-founded MODS collective (bringing creative minds together into discussions and exchanges). She has shown her works in the mentioned cities above including Venice, with solo shows in Toronto, Leipzig and Sevilla. Group murals exist in Mongolia, Kenya, Brazil, Korea and Canada.
SHOWS ALONE
2020 10 Single Out, Collision Gallery Toronto, ON, Canada
2019 02 im Schatten (in the Shadows) S1 Vinyl & Kaffee Leipzig, Germany
2018 06 Sin Rostro (Faceless),Curated by Martina Garcia Durendez, LA Figurativa Seville, Spain
SHOWS TOGETHER
2020
09 Resident Artist's Collective show, Collision Gallery Toronto, ON, Canada
01-03 VAM (Visual Arts Mississauga) 's 42nd Annual Juried Show, Art Gallery of Mississauga Mississauga, ON, Canada
2019
11-12 34th Scarborough Arts' Juried Exhibition: INTROSPECTION, Cedar Ridge Creative Centre Scarborough, ON, Canada
10 V O C A B, Lindenow, Westapotheke Leipzig, Germany
10 Din [<] Leipzig, Germany
02-03 The Body Language, Curated by Luca Curci, The Room Venice, Italy
2018
12 Spoor: Final Exhibition, Curated by Viviane Tabach, Pilotenkueche Leipzig, Germany
11 Speech Bubble, Curated by Maeshelle West-Davies & Viviane Tabach, Alte Handelsschule Leipzig, Germany
11 Rutschbahn, Curated by Martin Holz & Viviane Tabach, Krudebude Leipzig, Germany
11 I Accept Cookies, Curated by Viviane Tabach, Ping Pong Leipzig, Germany
2017
04 La Terre vue de la Terre, Centre d'Art Marnay Art Centre, Marnay-sur-Seine, Paris, France
2015
09 QWAC Award of Distinction: 6/200 show, Artscape Youngplace, Toronto, ON, Canada
2009
07 48th Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition (TOAE), Nathan Philips Square, Toronto, ON, Canada
05 RETROspective show, OCAD University, Toronto, ON, Canada
2007
09 Insecure, Ben Navaee Gallery, Toronto, ON, Canada
2004
01 Imprints, Ontario College of Art & Design Transit Space, Toronto, ON, Canada
2003
05 Identity, Toronto Consulate of South Korea Gallery,Toronto, ON, Canada
2002
07 One Voice, Christie Korean Cultural Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
06 KOSTA: Image, Trent University Gallery, Peterborough, ON, Canada
PAINTED MURALS TOGETHER
2005
08 Rise Up, Educandario Sao Vicente de Paulo– orphanage exterior, Itarare, Sao Paulo, Brazil
08 Swim, Health Centre- interior walls, Itarare, Sao Paulo, Brazil
2004
08 Map, Massai Church- interior walls, Maisikiria, Rift Valley, Kenya
2002
08 Wave, Orphanage- exterior walls, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
COMMISSIONS & RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE
2017 - 2022
CO-FOUNDER & MODERATOR: MODS COLLECTIVE Barcelona, Spain > Leipzig, Germany > online
2020
PUBLIC VIDEO ART: "Finder's Keepers", City of Mississauga, Maps of Mississauga Selection, ON, Canada (2 month project)
Sunflower Murals Selection: "Remembering Four Sisters", Lakeview Village & Artscape Atelier Sunflower Murals Selection, Mississauga, ON, Canada (2 month project)
1998
Volunteer Arts Instructor: Greenland Public School, North York, ON, Canada
AWARDS & RESIDENCY (PARTICIPATION & WORK-TRADE)
2022
Toronto Arts Council: Animating Historic Sites- Gibson House Toronto, ON, Canada (1 year)
2021
PARTIAL Gallery X OCADU CAREER LAUNCHER recipient, online sales representation, Toronto, ON, Canada (1 year)
AKIN X COLLISION Gallery AIR, Toronto, ON, Canada (4 months)
2020
MODS MANUAL WRITING LAB Residency, Online (8 weeks)
MODS VIRTUAL LAB Pilot Residency, Online (6 weeks)
Remota, Can Serrat (ES) & g_b (CO), Online Pilot Residency
2019
Mississauga Living Arts Centre (MLAC), Mississauga, ON, Canada (1 year)
Pilotenkueche: ASSISTANT DIRECTOR in Residence, Leipzig, Germany (3 months)
2018
Pilotenkueche, Leipzig, Germany (3 months)
AIR Gentum, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR in Residence,Seville, Spain (Work-trade 2 months)
AIR Gentum, Seville, Spain (Stipend Award 3 months)
2017
Can Serrat Centro de Actividades Artísticas, ARTISTIC COORDINATOR in Residence, El Bruc, Catalunya, Spain (work-trade 3 months)
CAMAC (Centre d'Art Marnay Art Centre): ARTIST CHEF in Residence, Marnay-Sur-Seine, France (1 month)
CAMAC (Centre d'Art Marnay Art Centre), Marnay-Sur-Seine, France (Stipend Award 10 weeks)
2015
Can Serrat Centro de Actividades Artisticas, El Bruc, Barcelona, Spain (Stipend Award 2 months)