In Reverence to the Feminine : Nahyun Kim | A Pact Before Birth

A Pact Before Birth, Nahyun Kim,  2023, Oil on Canvas, $800

Nahyun Kim 

Artist Statement

Based in San Francisco | unceded Ramaytush Ohlone land

I paint inner visuals that are drawn from my experiences as a Korean American woman who immigrated to the U.S. at the cusp of teenage years. Painting these inner visuals allows me to create new symbols of empowerment, and it acts as containers that hold both masculine and feminine energies which we all harness within us regardless of gender. By practicing and playing with this balance, I am visualizing the landscapes of home where we can be free to embrace the chaotic nature of human existence and rise above. 

The landscapes in my paintings are fantastical excursions reminiscent of Korean folktales. Through these visuals, I am digging into my ancestry beyond culture and race - they are a primal search of my/our beginnings. Where do we come from and how can we channel that here in this lifetime? Through my work, I am delving deeper into our roots that transcend the limitations of this society and lifetime. It is the freedom of our expressions and experiences that allow us to consistently grow and be propelled forward. 

A Pact Before Birth

This was inspired by a vision I had about my mother and our karmic tie that seems to exceed this lifetime. I believe we’ve agreed upon a pact before coming into this life - to protect and support each other no matter what. We are in space burning passionately encircled and protected by a big snake, which represents our Chinese Zodiac. This is a visual of wonder and eternal empowerment - that we are never alone, and we can move through life with this