Description

This edition is a print of a painting titled ‘Ego Pathétique’, a work that belongs to ‘Soliloquy for Two’, a major installation exhibited at François Ghebaly, Los Angeles, and acquired by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). This body of work evokes theatrical themes—suggesting a stage where emotions, narratives, and intentions unfold. Whilst ‘soliloquy’ typically refers to a character’s thoughts to one’s self, the proposition for a soliloquy for two hints at the dialogic interplay between the artist and the viewer.

“Pathétique” is a term used in music meaning to evoke pity, passion, and deep expression. The imagery here depicts upright tree encircled by paper dolls, twisting upwards as a scorpion emanates from the shadows. This juxtaposition, much like the contrasting movements in a musical piece, captures the essence of human experiences—the harmonies and the discords, the highs and the lows, and the constant interplay between light and darkness.

About the artist

Cindy Ji Hye Kim (b. 1990, Incheon, South Korea) received a B.F.A. from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2013 and a M.F.A. from the Yale University School of Art in 2016. Her work has been featured in solo presentations at Casey Kaplan, New York;  Kunsthall Stavanger, Stavanger; MIT List Visual Arts Center, Cambridge; and François Ghebaly Gallery, Los Angeles. Kim has been awarded residencies from The Banff Centre, Vermont Studio Center, Ox-Bow, Grin City Collective, and Salem Art Works. Cindy Ji Hye Kim currently lives and works in Bronx, NY, USA.