North America

Christine Sun Kim

Pianoiss . . . issmo (Worse Finish)

2012

Pianoiss . . . issmo (Worse Finish)

Christine Sun Kim’s Pianoiss . . . issmo (Worse Finish) explores the intersection of sound, visual art, and linguistic expression. This drawing features a red musical staff with exaggerated and fragmented dynamics, such as “pianoiss . . . issmo”, stretching and distorting the traditional musical notation to suggest both a visual crescendo and the breakdown of sound. The subtitle implies a commentary on the challenges and imperfections inherent in communication and interpretation. Through her distinct approach, Kim challenges conventional perceptions of music and sound, encouraging viewers to consider the visual representation of auditory phenomena. The work is both a critique and celebration of the ways sound can be perceived and understood beyond its traditional auditory confines, highlighting Kim’s innovative contributions to contemporary art and her exploration of alternative sensory experiences.

Working predominantly in drawing, performance, and video, Christine Sun Kim's practice considers how sound operates in society, deconstructing the politics of sound, and exploring oral languages as social currency. Kim’s work delves into the physicality of sound, along with a personal interrogation of the often unarticulated etiquette of sound in society. Through a variety of forms she finds new 'signs' for sound as she experiences, understands, or imagines it. Musical notation, written language, American Sign Language (ASL), and the use of the body are all recurring elements in her work. She further uses sound to explore her own relationship to verbal languages and her environment. Her work asks critical questions about the ownership of sound, and the values and rules that govern the invisible force that surrounds us all.

Member Log-In

Christine Sun Kim Pianoiss . . . issmo (Worse Finish)

Christine Sun Kim

Pianoiss . . . issmo (Worse Finish)