[Hotel Minibar]
I wanted to capture a brief moment at the hotel room during a trip. When you return to your room with swollen feet after a long day’s exploration, you cannot help but feel tempted by the selection of food and drink in the minibar. Your day would not be the same if it weren’t for the peeling off of those cookie wrappers and the preparing of some hot tea in some fancy glassware. Of course, you are too tired to clean the table before bed, and when you catch a glimpse of the leftovers the following morning, all those wonderful memories come flooding back. The vibrant colors of my painting represent nostalgic bursts, all of which pave the way for yet another meaningful day and journey ahead.
[Identities]
There are many identities within us. Regardless of age, from a girl to a lady, there are various images of women in one person.
[Discrepancy]
Objects, both mundane and precious, all play a role in the context of our lives. In this piece, I took a selection of objects and presented them as if they were standing at a particularly point in one’s timeline. With a splash of creativity, I placed my earphones, lipstick, shoe, jelly treat etc., on sushi rails, each of which embeds different memories of my life. Time ticks at a constant pace for everyone at every moment. Great moments fly by, however, while hardships seem to linger around in slow motion, like waiting for your favorite dish on a sushi rail that simply never comes. When I hold an object that is meaningful to me, it acts as a time machine, transporting me to different spots of time seemingly forgotten.
[Wrapping Paper]
Like some kind of hoarder, I rarely ever throw wrapping paper away. I believe that the choice and style of wrapping paper speaks volumes about the way the giver perceives the receiver. When we choose our gift wrapping, we consider the receiver’s age, sex, and character traits, even subconsciously. If preparing a gift for a close friend or relative, we may even consider the messages written on the wrapping paper and hidden beneath it’s surface. This piece is based on a box that I keep in my room with letters, cards, and the wrapping paper that once decorated gifts. When looking inside at the contents of my box, I can almost feel the way others view me. These pieces of paper echo the time I have spent with others, what I mean to them, and what they mean to me in the broader context of my life.
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Jaeyeon Kim is a fine artist who works to claim spaces for the public to engage with art without difficulty. Her work often revolves around detailed paintings, installation art, and sculptures, which become a place for social engagement and visual communication.