SARAH SHINHYO KIM
530 West 25th Street, New York, NY
Sarah Shinhyo Kim is a Korean-American artist using pop imagery to navigate existential and societal questions. At Aqua Art Miami, Kim presents paintings from her Eggspression series. The work, made of acrylic and resin, depicts fried eggs humanized with emojis. During a routine breakfast preparation, Kim noticed how the yolk remained still, while the egg whites continuously changed form, which prompted a reflection on the complexity and mutability of human emotions. Just like people are influenced by outer circumstances, Kim’s eggs fluctuate in shape and texture, subject to varying degrees of heat, oil, and environmental conditions. Ubiquitous and seemingly prosaic, eggs are turned into symbols of nourishment, symbolizing the essence of every living being. Paired with emojis, they illustrate the profound interconnectedness of human beings, highlighting the intricate dance of relationships and the shared experiences that mold our individual and collective identities.
Kim studied Fine Arts at Cornell University and earned her BFA in Fashion Design from Parsons School of Design. Kim currently lives and works in New Jersey.
The Eggspression series represents a continuous exploration of human emotions and relationships through the lens of a seemingly mundane item - fried eggs. In the contemporary landscape where emojis serve as tools for modern communication, I draw parallels to the ubiquity of eggs as a common necessity in human lives. Beyond their apparent simplicity, eggs embody a complex manifestation of life, symbolizing the essence of every living being.
The inspiration for the egg series struck me during a routine breakfast preparation, specifically when frying eggs. Each time I cracked an egg, the yolk remained constant, while the egg white assumed diverse shapes and forms upon cooking. This observation captivated me with its inherent intrigue. The constancy of the yolk, juxtaposed with the variability of the surrounding egg white, presented a compelling metaphor for the diverse characteristics and emotions inherent in human beings.
In essence, the fried eggs in this series serve as a powerful representation of the myriad ways in which individuals, like the egg whites, take on distinct shapes and textures influenced by the varying elements of heat, oil, and environment.
The Eggspression series serves as a poignant representation, illustrating how, much like the eggs, we are inherently connected and shaped by our interactions with one another. The diverse forms and textures of the fried eggs mirror the array of emotions and characteristics inherent in human beings, highlighting the intricate dance of relationships and the shared experiences that mold our individual and collective identities.
ORIGINAL SARAH SHINHYO KIM ARTWORKS