Trees_seoul: Dongi Kim

From December 3 to December 16, 2020, Gallery Chosun presents a solo exhibition by Dongi Kim titled 《Trees_Seoul》. In this exhibition Kim brings into the gallery the images of old trees that disappear alongside apartment complexes undergoing redevelopment in Seoul. The artist carves these trees into large wooden panels, preserving their presence through the physical act of engraving. 

The Trees series records the spaces and times in which the artist lives, capturing landscapes shaped by a specific era. 《Trees_Seoul》 focuses on trees that once shared long histories with residents of the Jinju, Crown, and Musung apartment complexes in Jamsil. As these buildings were demolished and rebuilt, the trees were uprooted, cut down, and erased. Kim documents this process by carving the vanishing trees into large-scale woodblocks with sharp blades. Installed in a darkened gallery, the suspended woodblock prints invite viewers to confront the trees directly. This spatial arrangement aligns the artist’s perspective, one that seeks to speak from the position of the trees, with the gaze of the viewer. 

Through continued experimentation, Dongi Kim questions how far printmaking can be expanded, and how far artistic concepts can unfold through the medium. In this exhibition, the traces left by body and time on the woodblocks offer a striking and immersive experience.