觉醒 - 宣纸上的中国水墨 - Kim Misoon - 韩国 - 1995

KIM MISOON (B. 1959)
"AWAKENING", 1995
With Certificate of Authenticity from Gallery

From the Traces Series

Original Korean, Chinese ink on Rice Paper (Hanji)

You can actually see this artwork on Kim Misoon official website.

About the Artist:

Misoon Kim is a distinguished contemporary Korean ink painter, born in Busan, South Korea, in 1959. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Busan National University in 1982 and her Master of Fine Arts from Hong-ik University in Seoul in 1985. Emerging at the forefront of the new movement in abstract Korean ink painting during the 1980s, Kim developed a distinctive artistic language that bridges traditional East Asian ink techniques and contemporary abstraction.

Her international experiences, including periods spent in Paris, New Delhi, Hong Kong, Seoul and New York, have contributed to the evolution of her artistic vision. Through the essential materials of ink and traditional Korean rice paper, known as hanji, Kim explores the expressive power of gesture, the passage of time and the intangible energy of human existence.

Her work is distinguished by a sophisticated balance between expressive brushwork and empty space, transforming the simplicity of black ink on a pale ground into a compelling meditation on life, movement and the traces we leave behind.

The Traces Series

The Traces series lies at the heart of Misoon Kim’s artistic exploration of human presence and the ephemeral nature of existence. Rather than depicting recognisable figures or landscapes, the artist captures the invisible rhythms, emotions and energies that shape individual lives.

Each brushstroke is a singular, unrepeatable gesture. Through variations in pressure, rhythm, density and the dilution of ink, Kim creates a visual language that evokes movement, interaction and the passage of time. Splashes, sweeping marks and delicate traces appear spontaneously across the paper, while the surrounding negative space plays an equally essential role in the composition.

Rooted in the East Asian tradition of ink painting and informed by a contemplative sensibility, the series invites viewers to reflect on the relationship between presence and absence, permanence and transience, and the many impressions left by human experience.

AWAKENING (1995)

Created in 1995, AWAKENING is an evocative example of Misoon Kim’s expressive approach to abstract ink painting. Executed in black ink on traditional rice paper, this striking horizontal composition measures 60 × 120 cm, allowing the brushwork to unfold across an expansive field of warm, off-white paper.

Dynamic black and grey strokes, scattered droplets and subtle washes of diluted ink animate the surface. Some marks appear bold and concentrated, while others fade into delicate, almost translucent traces. Their irregular rhythm creates a sense of movement and tension, suggesting fleeting encounters, emerging energies and the spontaneous unfolding of life.

The composition balances expressive intensity with generous areas of untouched paper. This interplay between ink and emptiness gives the work a distinctive sense of breath and openness, inviting the eye to travel freely across the surface.

The title AWAKENING suggests a moment of emergence: the stirring of consciousness, the release of latent energy or the beginning of a new awareness. Without prescribing a single interpretation, the work encourages a personal response to its gestures, rhythms and contrasts.

Combining the immediacy of calligraphic movement with the freedom of abstract expression, AWAKENING reflects the poetic strength of Kim’s artistic language and her enduring interest in the invisible forces that connect human lives.

Artwork Details

Artist: Misoon Kim

Title: AWAKENING

Date: 1995

Series: Traces

Medium: Ink on traditional rice paper (hanji)

Origin: Korean contemporary art

Type: Original artwork

An expressive and contemplative work by a Korean artist whose practice brings together the heritage of traditional ink painting and the freedom of contemporary abstraction. AWAKENING offers collectors an opportunity to appreciate the subtle interplay of gesture, energy and silence that defines Misoon Kim’s artistic vision.

Dimensions: 60 x 120 x 1,5 cm
Dimensions with American-style frame : 61,5 X 126,5 x 3,5 cm

The artwork will be professionally and securely packaged to ensure maximum protection during transit. Shipping will be fully insured for added peace of mind and to protect your investment.