Kim, Byung jin : A steel wire that "expresses" the space surrounds itself

A steel wire that "expresses" the space surrounds itself

Written by Lee, Joo hyun

Draw a line Then there will be a border. And a border will create two separate sides. However, that is only possible in a two dimensional surface. Within a three dimensional space, it is impossible for one to divide the space with a line. A line within the three-dimensional space only represents a direction or an axis. The space is never divided with lines. Rather, it surrounds the line. But the line "makes an expression" in that space. Therefore, the line within the three dimensional space is not a border but an expression.

Kimbyung-Jin's carvings are made out of steel wires. That is why his pieces hanged on the wall looks like a drawing on a plane. The steel-wires form flower figures or leaf figures on a white wall, and therefore the art-work as a whole looks like a pencil drawing. However, when we look closer at the artwork, the lines are floating in space, and are not drawn. The volumes and curves of the line gives a unique feature to the particular space.

The lights shine on the figure and creates a light shadow, which is subtle. The line(steel wire) floating in space, and theshadow line get together to create a beautiful harmony. Especially, the harmony within the piece that describes a flower reminds me of the Flower Duet from Lakme. The artwork is more attractive as you see it more often. Carvings could be expressed in terms of mass and volume.

When a huge chunk of something occupies a space, people will think that there should be some stories behind it. After looking at the lump, which shows someone its clear "existence", it is possible that someone might consider thelines within the space as insignificant. However, many people get surprised at the fact that even a single line within the empty space can have an enormous effect, as we can see from Kim Byungjin's piece. For instance, Such effects are same as sufferinga severe pain from a little thorn.

Of course it hurts when you get hit by a thick and big object. But getting your body pricked by a throne can cause the same amount of pain. The pain caused by the thorn could be more severe to one as the thorn gives damage to the single spot of one's body.When we look closer at the artwork, the steel-wire contains thickness by its own standards. Even though the steel wire is a thin line, it is a carving as the line is floating on space.

The sculpture is made with "the minimum materials." The purpose of such reduction is to let all the subjects become nothing. However, the line that resists to become "nothing," and therefore claims its existence, has created the art with minimum materials. The tension, balance, and centrifugal force of the line created as the result of the "resistance."bring enormous feeling of magnificence to the audience, as much as the thick and big object. The lines that are never diminished, but give life to the space, are the lines created by Kim byung jin. That is why those "lines of resistance" make us want to touch.