KIM DEOK HAN

The classic publication on lacquer art, Xiushilu by Huang Cheng, written during the Ming Dynasty in China, states: “All workers create utensils, much like the creation of heaven and earth. Therefore, there are saints and gods, and they all rely on merit and law, so good work sharpens their tools. However, sharp tools are like the four seasons, and beautiful materials are like the five elements. When the four seasons are balanced, and the five elements are in harmony, things are born.” This passage suggests that a craftsman’s creation is akin to the creation of natural things, where the interaction of the four seasons and the five elements produces exquisite objects. This unity between nature and man requires the accumulation of craftsmanship, time, and the shaping of natural conditions. Beyond showcasing the profound aesthetics of lacquer art, it also embodies the creative spirit of artist Kim Deok Han, who uses lacquer as a key medium in his artistic approach.

For Kim Deok Han, lacquer is not just a simple paint; it’s a material steeped in time. By adding pigments, Kim Deok Han crafts unique hues that encapsulate personal memories, emotions, and experiences, recording the present while evoking a sense of time and space.

Kim Deok Han begins by applying a thin layer of lacquer, followed by a blend of lacquer and clay. He then adds layers of pigments, which are gradually stripped away using sandpaper. This process allows the upper colours to remain while revealing the underlying layers. The lacquer embeds itself in the image, either settling into or wearing away to the bottom layers. Each work is created through an orderly process of repeated stacking and peeling, methodically entering a state of reflection and demonstrating the artist’s meticulous attention to detail and repetition. Kim Deok Han believes that the present form is shaped by the overlapping records of the past. This process, which continually appears and disappears within the cycle of the universe, imbues the work with a sense of existential value. The layers of overlapping colours undergo multiple stages of persistent lacquering and polishing, ultimately blurring the boundaries and revealing pure, natural colours that project the brilliance of the work.

Kim Deok Han’s classic Overlaid series will be featured in this exhibition, along with his Division series, lacquer-on-aluminum installation works being shown for the first time in Taipei, and his lacquer round-shaped sculptures from the Compressed series. The artist has expanded his practice from two-dimensional lacquer works to round-shaped three-dimensional sculptures and rectangular-shaped installations, exploring and discovering new dimensions of his artistic expression.