South Korean Sculptor Kim Yun Shin Gains Recognition at 91
South Korean sculptor Kim Yun Shin, 91, continues to work with a chainsaw in her studio in Paju. The artist is the subject of a solo exhibition at a South Korean art museum, the first such show there dedicated to a woman since the institution opened in 1982. Kim spent decades outside her home country before receiving wider attention for her abstract hardwood sculptures.
Japan TimesSouth Korean sculptor Kim Yun Shin, 91, continues to use a chainsaw as she refines abstract works in her studio in Paju, a city northwest of Seoul. Kim has gained recognition in recent years after being long overlooked in South Korea. " The exhibition includes some of Kim's signature abstract sculptures made from hardwood.
The show is the first at the museum since its founding in 1982 to focus on a woman artist. "The saw is my body," Kim said. " Kim honed her craft over decades spent outside South Korea. She returned to work in Paju, where she maintains her studio practice with the same tool she has used for years.
The retrospective presents an overview of her career. It brings attention to her contributions as a sculptor working primarily in wood.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
3 events- May 7, 2026
Japan Times publishes profile on sculptor Kim Yun Shin and her ongoing exhibition.
1 sourceJapan Times - 2026
Kim Yun Shin, age 91, continues working with a chainsaw in her Paju studio.
1 sourceJapan Times - Recent months
A solo exhibition titled "Two Be One" opens at a South Korean art museum.
1 sourceJapan Times
Potential Impact
- 01
The exhibition increases public awareness of Kim Yun Shin's abstract wood sculptures in South Korea.
- 02
The show establishes a precedent for future solo exhibitions of women artists at the museum.
- 03
Recognition at age 91 may draw more visitors to the museum's sculpture displays.
- 04
Coverage of Kim's continued use of a chainsaw may introduce her methods to new audiences.
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