Dow Kim’s gathering journey started within the Nineties with a “stroke of luck,” he mentioned. A finance govt dwelling in Tokyo, he acquired a name from a colleague with the information {that a} Japanese artwork establishment was promoting numerous work. Earlier than he knew it, he had purchased an authentic Marc Chagall.
His tastes have developed since then, now incorporating Asian and Western modern artwork. And, gathering has change into an integral a part of his life, because the semi-retired personal investor hits the worldwide artwork festivals, pops up at auctions as each purchaser and vendor, and makes studio visits to hone that all-important rapport with artists.
He served as a trustee of the Asia Society from 2006 to 2009 and, in 2018, based the Dow Kim Household Basis to advertise philanthropic actions round Korean management, training, and the humanities within the U.S. The objective is to “empower the lives of underserved and under-resourced Korean Individuals,” he defined. At present, the inspiration financially helps 4 nonprofit organizations and is a sponsor of the exhibition “Solely the Younger: Experimental Artwork in Korea, Sixties–70s” on the Solomon R. Guggenheim in New York. Working now by way of January 7, 2024, it’s the primary North American museum exhibition devoted to Korean experimental artwork often known as silheom misul.
Kim’s gathering acquired a lift when he attended the inaugural version of Frieze Seoul final yr. “It’s nice to see Korea rising as a major artwork middle,” he mentioned. “Many Koreans and Korean Individuals are beginning their very own journeys in gathering.” That led to a repeat go to this yr—and he didn’t depart empty-handed, as he describes beneath.
On an obvious gathering tear (11 purchases within the final yr alone), Dow Kim spoke with Artnet Information about a few of his prized items, what acquisitions he hopes are in his future, and the Chagall that began all of it.
Marc Chagall, Les fiancés à l’horloge (The bride and groom on the clock) (1965). Courtesy of Dow Kim.
What was your first buy?
Like many occurrences in life, it was happenstance that led to the acquisition of my first vital portray in 1997. At the moment, I didn’t know a lot in regards to the artwork market however was conscious of huge title artists, similar to Monet, Picasso, Renoir, and Chagall. I used to be dwelling in Tokyo again then when a colleague alerted me {that a} vendor was trying to unload numerous work, together with works by Picasso and Chagall. By way of that chance, and with no earlier expertise in shopping for authentic artwork, I dove in and acquired a basic 1965 Chagall oil portray, Les fiancés à l’horloge.
Yulia Iosilzon, Lobster Tail Flowers (Shellfish) (2023). Courtesy of Dow Kim.
What was your most up-to-date buy?
My most up-to-date purchases have been at Frieze and Kiaf Seoul 2023. I acquired an oil portray by Paulo Nimer Pjota—a brand new artist for me—at Frieze, and a portray by Yulia Iosilzon at Kiaf. I first got here throughout Yulia’s works final yr at Carvalho Park gallery’s sales space at Kiaf, and fell in love together with her works a lot in order that I’ve acquired 4 extra work since then. Superbly undulating, calligraphic traces are a signature characteristic of Yulia’s dreamlike compositions.
Paulo Nimer Pjota, Cenas de casa, mesa e banco (2023). Courtesy of Mendes Wooden DM.
George Apartment, Two Figures with Face Masks (2020). Courtesy of Sprüth Magers.
Inform us a few favourite work in your assortment.
That’s a tough query for me to reply, as a lot of the work I’ve are favorites. My favourite portray could change week to week relying on my notion and temper. However I do have a sentimental favourite—a portray by George Apartment, Two Figures with Face Masks (2020). I take into account the portray, made throughout Covid, to be historic—the title of the portray says all of it. In the course of the center of the pandemic, an artwork advisor contacted me to ask if I used to be all for a Apartment that was going to be proven at Kiaf 2020. I used to be excited when it was supplied to me as a result of I had been trying to purchase a Apartment portray for a while. Once I noticed the pictures of the portray, I fell in love with it immediately and acquired it with out seeing it in particular person. That was the start of buying Apartment work. I’ve acquired two further works in acrylic pantings since that point. Nobody paints like Apartment, and his work are immediately recognizable. I discover him to be unparalleled in his skill to mismatch totally different kinds, steadiness neo-Cubism, and layer nuanced human consciousness in his work. But he is ready to seamlessly deliver all these parts collectively in creating highly effective compositions.
Joel Mesler, Untitled (All We Want Is Love) (2021). Courtesy of Dow Kim.
Which works or artists are you hoping so as to add to your assortment this yr?
I’ve already acquired 11 oil and acrylic work this yr by Ed Clark, Joel Mesler, Ferrari Sheppard, Aya Takano, Yulia Iosilzon, Paulo Nimer Pjota, and Zio Ziegler. I wish to purchase one other acrylic or oil portray by one of many blue-chip artists I have already got in my assortment, if I can discover an excellent one.
At first look of the aforementioned record of artists, one might imagine that I gather artwork randomly. However that’s not the case in any respect. I’m very all for gathering totally different kinds of work by many artists, as a result of that’s what makes the gathering expertise each thrilling and satisfying. And normally, I take a standard strategy to buying a portray. First, I’ve to essentially prefer it and have the ability to get pleasure from it on a wall daily. I all the time ask my daughters for second and third opinions earlier than any purchases. Second, I attempt to determine artists whose works are immediately recognizable, distinctive, and timeless (i.e., you already know a Picasso portray, a Kusama portray, or a Apartment portray whenever you see it). And third, as soon as I determine the artists I need to gather, I attempt to purchase what I take into account to be their greatest works, if I can discover and afford them.
Aya Takano, Land of Sodom and Gomorrah (2006). Courtesy of Dow Kim.
I have a tendency to gather vast and deep because it’s my objective to construct a meaningfully diversified portfolio of thrilling artworks. For example, as talked about beforehand, one of many artists I gather is George Apartment. Over a number of years, I managed to accumulate three of his oil/acrylic work. That is what I imply by ‘deep.’ On the similar time, I’ve greater than 25 artists in my assortment. And that is what I imply by ‘vast.’ My present assortment contains works by each blue-chip and rising artists: Lee Krasner, Yayoi Kusama, Nicolas Celebration, Ha Chong Hyun, Robert Nava, Maria Berrio, Timothy Curtis, Christopher Le Brun, and others.
Ferrari Sheppard, Portal Examine 1 (2021), left, and Portal Examine 3 (2023). Courtesy of Massimo De Carlo.
What’s the most useful murals that you simply personal?
I take into account my total artwork assortment to be worthwhile to me total, as a result of surrounding myself with them actually helps me to reside a satisfying and enriching clever life. But when I had to decide on one, I believe it might be between the Lee Krasner and Nicolas Celebration work.
The place do you purchase artwork most often?
These days, most of my acquisitions are from galleries. Out of the 11 work I acquired this yr, solely two have been purchased at auctions; the remainder have been acquired from galleries instantly or at artwork festivals. I now have direct shopping for relationships with 12 galleries, which is useful.
I attempt to attend most artwork festivals in New York, similar to Frieze, the Armory Present, and TEFAF. I additionally attend Frieze Seoul and Artwork Basel Miami yearly. And relying on my journey schedule, I attempt to attend different main artwork festivals, similar to Frieze London and Artwork Basel in Switzerland and Hong Kong. I discover the main festivals to be glorious venues for establishing and constructing new relationships with varied galleries. I additionally discover it comparatively simpler for me to accumulate new artworks at artwork festivals, as a result of most of the galleries nonetheless promote major artworks on a primary come, first served foundation.
Social media is one other supply. It’s a good way to remain present on artwork information, join with galleries, and determine fascinating artists. In my case, I’ve used Instagram to my benefit for the above functions and located the general expertise to be very constructive. In actual fact, I’ve been lucky sufficient to attach with a number of galleries over Instagram to accumulate major work.
Is there a piece you remorse buying?
I’ve made my share of errors alongside the way in which. The largest mistake was paying a really excessive value for an rising/mid-career artist at an public sale whose major value was lots decrease. Though I actually love the art work, that artist has misplaced some shine within the secondary market. Such is a part of my artwork gathering expertise and the chance of chasing a sizzling artist within the secondary market.
Robert Nava, Chemical Shark (2022). Courtesy of Tempo Gallery.
What work do you could have hanging above your couch? What about in your lavatory?
At any time when I purchase a major portray, I normally hold it first in my front room above the couch to understand and revel in. Final yr, I used to be lucky sufficient to accumulate a big oil portray by Robert Nava, Chemical Shark (2022), from a gallery. I believe solely Nava can current a shark in such a colourful, daring, and highly effective picture utilizing his personal distinct fashion. I really like the general composition and scale of the portray. Adore it or hate it. I adore it!
Ed Clark, Inexperienced Prime (Vétheuil) (1967). Courtesy of Dow Kim.
This yr, hanging above my couch is an Ed Clark portray titled Inexperienced Prime (Vétheuil), which I acquired earlier this yr. Executed in 1967, the work was created throughout his yearlong keep at Joan Mitchell’s home in Vétheuil, France. This work has Clark’s attribute broad, highly effective brushstrokes and radiant colours on a large-scale canvas. I completely love this portray.
Hanging in my lavatory is Pablo Picasso’s aquatint Bon-a-Tirer (1963). I acquired this work in 1999 whereas dwelling in Tokyo.
Pablo Picasso, Bon-a-Tirer (1963). Courtesy of Dow Kim.
What’s the most impractical murals you personal?
I don’t have something towards sculptures (actually, I’ve a handful of them), however for me personally, it must be a large-scale sculpture that I acquired from a gallery in 2009. It’s in storage. I merely can’t discover sufficient area to put it. For greater than a decade, I’ve been buying solely oil or acrylic work on canvas. They final without end, I can simply hold them on a wall, and they’re simple to retailer.
What work do you would like you had purchased whenever you had the prospect?
I want I had purchased a Joan Mitchell portray again in 2007–2010 after I had the prospect. I didn’t pull the set off and in addition misplaced out on couple of bidding conditions at auctions. I liked her works then, and I really like her works much more right now. I did handle to accumulate a Lee Krasner comparatively early on, after I purchased an oil portray at an public sale in 2006. I acquired a complete of three Krasner oil work by 2019, however I at present have just one left. Joan Mitchell and Lee Krasner are my absolute favourite Summary Expressionist artists.
One artist’s works I actually needed to accumulate however couldn’t was Matthew Wong, circa 2017–18. I liked his large-format work however simply couldn’t purchase his major works from a gallery as a result of I had no shopping for relationship with it. The remainder is historical past. Wong’s artworks are actually among the many most sought-after these days, and nonetheless stunning and mesmerizing to have a look at. I took some consolation in understanding that a minimum of I can belief my eyes in figuring out nice artists and delightful artworks.
In case you may steal one murals with out getting caught, what would it not be?
The Kiss (1908) by Gustav Klimt. So stunning and timeless.
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