Lot 1107: KIM SUNG JIN

KIM SUNG JIN
(Born in 1973)
The Lip - I & II
signed and dated 'Kim Sung Jin; The Lip - I; The Lip - II' in English (on reverse)
two oil on canvas
73 x 116.5 cm. (28 3/4 x 45 7/8 in.) x 2 pieces
Painted in 2003 (2)

Christie's Hong Kong, 28 May, 2006, Lot 437
Acquired from the above sale by the present owner

Rational in his choice of approach, Kim Sung Jin is aware of the obvious implications carried by the lips as a primary medium for human communication, as well as interaction of the most intimate kind. Interested in such divided perceptions, Kim therefore deconstructs the body to transform a single part into a symbol, and in doing so explores the lips as a vessel that expresses desire under the facade of a controlled, objective piece of documentation.

The two paintings aside emanate a clever seductivity in its complementary texture. His astute experimentalism in color is what differentiates the two, demonstrating variance in tangibility regardless of its parallel subject portrayal. Comprehending the expected inclination of hyperrealism as one that deems on the surface to represent everything, Kim coyly manipulates this propensity and tunes the perceptive nerves to sharpen the sensory nerves into ripen a relationship of palpable intimacy. Like so, Kim continues to exploit the features of hyperrealism by capturing an up-close focus, imitating a photographic documentary to prompt an implication of obsession that may even further the sensual fixation along with the eccentric charm of his slight opening or closing of his lips. The formality of his execution served together with his premeditated intelligence occupies his canvas with great delusion, channeling viewers to loose their spectacle in the intensely described, three-dimensional lips.