I discovered Justin one day, by looking at my direct messages on Instagram. I did not know him since that moment, but I decided to check his account and saw that he has a unique style. I was stunned by the piece entitled "Modern Age" because of the mixed media work – oil on wood, presenting something like a city map or a computer motherboard circuits (you will see it during the interview).
I discovered Justin one day, by looking at my direct messages on Instagram. I did not know him since that moment, but I decided to check his account and saw that he has a unique style. I was stunned by the piece entitled "Modern Age" because of the mixed media work – oil on wood, presenting something like a city map or a computer motherboard circuits (you will see it during the interview).
After that, we used to talk a bit and I proposed him to do this interview so we can understand more what's behind this work, and maybe it will be a nice discovery for you!
Justin, and his artworks
Who are you? Where are you from and since how long have you been an artist?
Hi Anthony, my name is Justin N. Kim, I was born in Incheon, South Korea and currently living in Los Angeles, California. I came to the States with my family in the year 2000 and lived in Hanford for two-three years and then in Fresno for twelve-thirteen years. I moved down to LA with my girlfriend for grad school in 2015 and I completed it in 2018. We have remained here ever since.
I have been drawing since I was very young, but began painting once I was introduced to oil paint during college in 2013. My paintings started out with an influence of manga/comic style before transforming to the geometric abstract paintings I make today. This change in style was inspired by a painting I saw on one of my favorite TV shows at the time. Now it has been about 6 years that I have been working in this style of hard edge paintings that you see today.
Do you live on your Art?
I think this is my ultimate goal as a painter. Due to the current pandemic, I have been staying home and making paintings full time. With a little luck I was able to sell few of the small paintings during this time, but I am not able to live solely from selling unless my clientele skyrocketed or they became interested in bigger works.
Did the COVID period impact your Art? Did it change something with your creation process, your vision?
The silver lining of this pandemic has been all of the time I have been given to focus on my art. For the first time, I have been staying in my apartment and making paintings full time. When I was working as an art handler, I barely had two hours a day to paint. Not to mention the physical and mental exhaustion that each work day brings. Since the lockdown, I can also say that my mental state is fully committed in making paintings whereas when I was working, I wanted to paint but it felt like a chore. I have been able to produce more than several paintings during this time. I know that once things go back to how they were, I would not be able to make work like this again, so I am painting while I have the opportunity to do so now; making hay while the sun is up.
Our Feelings Connected, Oil on Canvas (2022) - SOLD
Do you have particular influences? Who made you want to do what you are doing today?
My interests are relationships that exist between components. The more components involved, the more relationships form and function within. I realized that this exists in maps and circuit boards. I also like to dissect electronics that I come across to study whenever I get the chance.
I am painting hard edge paintings now because I serendipitously encountered an abstract painting in Mad Men. I was painting loose figurative paintings and after seeing that abstract painting on the tv, I was fascinated with discovering the new genre and changed my painting style. My earlier abstract paintings are different compared to what I am doing now. It was a gradual change and growth where I explored, failed, and realized that I prefer organized aesthetics over expressive visual appearance that I tend to read as chaotic.
How do you define your style? It's hard to say, as a viewer, because it seems to be an "unordered geometry", but with a very deep color balance.
I describe to people that I paint “geometric abstract paintings comprised of lines and shapes.” I think this is easier to grasp because it breaks down my paintings despite their difference, whether it’s a map, color field or abstract painting, to their core to a new audience. When I was in grad school, somebody said something similar to “unordered geometry.” I think that person said “disordered grid” or “grid that doesn’t follow logic” referring to my map series. When I make map paintings, I try to follow logic and repeat certain things in a few ways but there is an element of spontaneity or willingness to ignore the rules and go off grid, because art does not have to make sense. I think that break off point is when things can get exciting and certainly different.
Your most recent works show something looking like an electronic motherboard, and/or a "city map" view from skies? What are your relations with those kinds of shapes?
I like looking at maps and breaking down electronics to see the what and the how. I think circuit boards/motherboards and cities are verisimilitude in a way that both rely on multiple functional systems and all components involved are required to play a role in order for the whole thing to work. I enjoy and appreciate the ecosystems that are formed within these two subject matters for the connection and relationship in which the systems are built on. While these two subject matters are similar in terms of needing their own ecosystems to function, I also appreciate their different aspects. One of which is the fluidity of lines - there are no organic or curvy lines in circuit boards while freeways and highways are predominately organic and curvy lines. I try to incorporate these differences as well as the similarities.
Our Way to B, Oil on Canvas (2022)
Is mixed media fully part of your working process? Does it help you when you imagine your upcoming piece?
It depends, I sometimes use color sample papers that you would find in Lowes or Home Depot when I am trying something new. The biggest samples are a little smaller than a postcard and some come in a strip form with five squares. I find it convenient to use the sample paper for consistency and ready-made-ness. When I do use the sample paper to explore, it is different each time. It is almost like collage making. I cut shapes, mostly squares or rectangles and arrange and rearrange them.I have also incorporated some small electronic parts in some paintings in the past. When the electronics I own end up beyond fixing, I open them up to see the parts. I do not know how each component functions but I appreciate the diversity and integral aspect each time I open up a broken electronic. The latest electronic I opened up is an old macbook charger. Which was built sturdy, I had trouble breaking open the shell. I do not think I have explored fully enough with incorporating 3d electronic parts in paintings, something that I should play around with more in future paintings.
Are you looking to highlight something with your work? Simple complexity, balanced emotions? Are you the Minautor inside the maze, or Theseus trying to exit?
The audience may see a common theme in a lot of my work that uses lines and shapes to make connections and interact with one another in order to function as a whole. This idea of connection and relationship, which may be most obvious in the map series, is highlighted through my own adaptations and understanding of my interests and experiences.I am currently working on a map painting that is more literal than any other map paintings I have done. It is uncanny that I got the idea to do a maze as my next project, I think it is hilarious you thought of maze, too.
Melrose, 11 x 14 in/ 27.9 x 35.5 cm, Oil and acrylic on cradled panel (2022)
Do you look at what other artists are doing? What are your thoughts about contemporary art, and today's art field?
Yeah, I do surf instagram and would see other contemporary art objects that are trending or in fashion. There’s a plethora of objects that fit underneath the term “contemporary art” and that art style cycles according to whatever is in season. With abstract paintings, I can say that it seems the style that is trending recently are paintings that are painted with this attitude of revolt or “knowing-that-things-were-done-that-way-in-the-past-but-I’m-doing-it-my-way” within these recent trending styles. I also think that mentality is how people live nowadays and it is being exhibited in art objects to reflect the current times. It sort of makes sense for the art makers of today to try to beat or push the traditional standard in this way, because we are living this right now.I think about what people will try to categorize this era, because “contemporary art” does allow a lot of objects to become art, and while there are many exciting and fascinating art makers, there are also people who are riding the fad train. Whatever this era might be called, I just hope my paintings are part of history.
Which artists do you like, or can you recommend following today?I am a fan of Alain Biltereyest and Tomory Dodge - these guys are top-notch-rockstar-painters. I can not get enough of both the simplicity and complexity from both painters’ work and the vast difference in their style. I would also like to recommend some painters whose work I fancy buthave not gotten the attention they need: Lester Monzon (@lester_monzon), Shannon Rogers (@northofhoxie), and Anne Seidman (@annecscs).
I want to thank Justin for taking the time to do this interview, and answer all those questions. He was so nice during all the process! So Justin, thank you very much! And thanks to all the readers for taking the time to discover this great guy! You can have a look to his Instagram account: @j.nkim and support him!
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