임충섭(Choong Sup Lim, 1941- ) 화백의 개인전 'Choong Sup Lim: In Between'이 2월 19일부터 4월 12일까지 뉴욕한국문화원(122 East 32nd St.)에서 열린다. 

 

"나는 어디에도 속하지 않는다"는 작가의 정체성과 작품성향을 담은 이 전시는 자연과 문명, 전통과 현대, 한국과 뉴욕의 경계를 초월, 이 영역들이 만나는 경계 공간의 변형적 잠재력을 조명하는 작품을 소개한다. 임충섭 화백은 한지, 나무, 돌, 실, 철사 등 고향의 기억을 담은 자연 소재를 뉴욕의 도시 문명을 담은 현대적 형태와 통합해 인간의 잠재의식과 문명의 역사를 인식한다. 이로써 과거와 현재, 동양과 서양이라는 이분법을 연결, 깊이 개인적이면서도 보편적으로 공감할 수 있는 시각적 언어를 만들어낸다. 

 

1941년 충북 진천에서 태어나 서울대 미대 졸헙 후 1973년 뉴욕으로 이주한 임충섭 화백은 프레임 숍을 운영하며 변형 캔버스 작업을 시작했다. 뉴욕대학교 미술대학원을 졸업한 후 했다. 광주 비엔날레(1997), 서울 국제갤러리, 삼성 로댕갤러리, 학고재, 국립현대미술관, 갤러리현대 등지에서 전시했다. 그의 작품은 메트로폴리탄뮤지엄, 허시혼미술관 조각정원(워싱턴 DC), 국립현대미술관, 리움미술관, , 서울시립미술관 등지에 소장되어 있다.  

 

 

Choong Sup Lim: In Between

 

On view: February 19 -  April 12, 2025

@Korean Cultural Center New York (122 East 32nd St.)

-Opening Reception: February 19 (6 -8 PM)

 

 

 

 

Exploring the Boundary of Nature and Civilization

 

The Korean Cultural Center New York is proud to present <In Between>, an exhibition celebrating the profound artistic legacy of Choong Sup Lim (b. 1941). Lim’s work transcends the boundaries of nature and civilization, tradition and modernity, Korea and New York, illuminating the transformative potential of the liminal spaces where these realms converge.

 

“I do not belong anywhere.”

 

This statement epitomizes Lim’s identity as an artist who resists categorization, instead embracing the creative tension found in the margins. By integrating natural materials such as Hanji, wood, and stone with contemporary forms, Lim bridges dichotomies—past and present, East and West—crafting a visual language that is at once deeply personal and universally resonant.

 

In 1973, Lim relocated to New York, a move that marked a pivotal moment in his career. Over the decades, he has established himself as a leading presence among Korean artists in the city, shaping a distinctive practice that harmonizes Korean aesthetics with global influences. New York’s fast-paced urban environment became the catalyst for his exploration of balance and order inspired by nature, resulting in a body of work that reflects both introspection and bold innovation.

 

 

Art as a Dialogue Between Memory and Material

 

Born in Jincheon, a rural town in central South Korea, Lim’s early life in this agrarian landscape left an indelible mark on his artistic vision. His practice explores the interplay between his childhood memories and the urban dynamism of New York, revealing an ongoing dialogue between nostalgia and modernity.

 

Central to Lim’s work is the use of found objects, which serve as vessels of memory and time. His early explorations included minimalist drawings on Hanji and experimental spatial installations. In later decades, Lim incorporated found objects more actively, reimagining their histories and meanings as part of his visual narrative. His recent installations, marked by intricate craftsmanship, merge Korean sensibilities with contemporary relevance, offering a profound meditation on cultural duality and artistic reinvention.

 

About the Artist

 

Photo: Hyo Jin An

 

Choong Sup Lim is a distinguished Korean artist celebrated for his multidisciplinary approach, which spans painting, drawing, sculpture, installation, and video art. A graduate of Seoul National University's College of Fine Arts in 1964, Lim relocated to New York in 1973. Since then, he has developed a unique artistic language that bridges Korean traditions with contemporary practices, reflecting both his rural upbringing in Jincheon and his urban experiences in New York.

 

Lim’s contributions to contemporary art have earned him international recognition. His works have been exhibited at prestigious institutions, including the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Seoul, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C. 

 

Lim’s academic achievements include the Max Beckmann Memorial Scholarship at the Brooklyn Museum Art School and an MFA from New York University. He has also been honored with grants from the Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation’s Space Program and the New York State Council on the Arts.

 

Continuing to work from his New York studio, Lim embodies the spirit of an artist who navigates the thresholds of time, space, and identity. Through his visionary practice, he redefines the boundaries of contemporary art, inviting audiences to reflect on the transformative spaces where worlds converge.

https://www.koreanculture.org