MYUNG-JOO KIM

The title, inspired by the poem of the same name from Victor Hugo’s collection ‘Les Contemplations’ (1856), reflects how Myung-Joo Kim’s dedication to ceramics transcends mere aesthetic form to address profound ontological questions about human existence and symbolically explore the essence of life. The condensed memories embodied in Kim’s creations, shaped from clay and born in light and heat, delve into the mysteries of existence and the eternal interplay of nature, examining the boundaries of finitude and permanence.

Myung-Joo Kim (b. 1973) studied ceramics at Hongik University and earned a master’s degree from ENSAV La Cambre in Brussels, Belgium. She currently active between Korea and Europe. After her first residency in Shigaraki, Japan she was selected for residencies in Vallauris, France, and the École d’art du Beavaisis. She has held solo exhibitions at KunstForum Solothurn, Switzerland (2022, 2024), and Vazieux Art Gallery in Paris (2022), and has participated in group exhibitions at the Ariana Museum and Busan Museum of Contemporary Art (2022). Additionally, she was invited to the Vallauris International Ceramic Biennale (2016) and the Châteauroux International Sculpture Biennale (2015). Her works are held in major collections; National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Bank in Korea, the Ariana Museum in Geneva, and the Guozhong Ceramic Art Museum in Beijing.