White Columns/Jin Kim

White Columns

Looking Back / The 13th White Columns Annual - Selected by Olivia Shao

I held my breath when I entered the White Columns gallery. The interior of the gallery was quiet and

filled with works of subdued color. I enjoy works of art that are make strong impressions and agitate

my mind, but here, these works calmed me down like a meditation. A small wooden spoon with spikes

placed between large paintings brought me one step closer to the work. I had to concentrate to hear the

sound coming out of the speakers at the back of the radiator piece. Also, drawings with thin and blurry

lines unless I pay close attention. I had to feel the work using various senses.

The exhibition was curated by Olivia Sho, and, according to The New York Times’s Holland Cotter,

“White Columns Annuals are so valuable is that they often include artists … who are unlikely to find

their way into mainstream institutions.” Without such a platform, it would be difficult for those who

have not graduated from mainstream schools or artists who have not yet entered the art scene to receive

attention. Ironically, the art world always wants new talents, but it is not easy unless it is included in the

mainstream. For me, who is still a student, this exhibition was inspirational because it shows the work

of art that has the power to allow people to view the work when they use their senses and concentration.

Also, I was impressed by the curator's plan. They are all different artists, but somehow connected to

each other. Lyrical, poetic, emotional. When I entered the gallery without prior knowledge, I thought

they were all made by one artist. The exhibition was consistent and unified.