In Kim Hyunji’s new series of works, she explores gender discrimination and the male gaze through depicting the nude body, that is captured through a diverse range of models. As an artist who is both a woman and a POC (Person of colour), this series was inspired by Kim’s own experiences of gender discrimination and unprofessionalism, while working within the Australian art scene. The artworks created for this project have been produced in collaboration with various artists who are female-identifying peers, and their experiences navigating a feminine appearance in contemporary society. These artists feature in Kim’s work as models and were asked to choose their own poses to reflect their personal body image. In addition, the exhibition provides a progressive visual language that moves beyond the generation and promotion of images of only white female bodies as a representation of women, that remains dominant in Australian society. By displaying her paintings of male bodies in this exhibition alongside her new works, Kim also offers a confronting experience to the audience, highlighting the different ways that gender impacts how we perceive the nude body.

Words by Julius Killerby.