Born in Seoul, South Korea, it was clear to Zin Lim from an early age that he wanted his life to be all about art. Knowing this, and with his passion for drawing at heart, Zin prepared for a university entrance exam.
He majored in industrial design, and more specifically in environmental design at Hong-Ik University (Seoul), an institution located in one of the most cultural areas of the city. This was, among other factors, one of the most influential for him when it came to directing his artistic career in such a broad and inclusive way.
With the restless mind of an artist, the Korean moved to the United States, where he studied 3D Animation at the Academy of Art University. It was while training in different areas that he realized that most of his artistic interest lay in the figure of the human body.
In 2006, Lim completed his MFA with honors at the aforementioned Academy of Art University in San Francisco, winning a multitude of awards of both national and international stature. Since then, he has not only taught drawing and painting courses at the Graduate School of Fine Art / Illustration at Academy of Art University, but also conducts numerous workshops around the world, while creating his own work in his studio in Alameda, California (as listed at the end of this article).
As he sees it, art is the best way to express, through a completely visual message, the human body and its feelings and thoughts.
As mentioned above, the main theme of Zin lim's work is the human body. However, it could be said that his works are somewhere between representation and abstraction. As we will see below, his brushstrokes are loose and his palette is full of bright colors. In terms of medium and technique, Zin Lim uses oil on canvas for his paintings and charcoal on paper for his drawings.
“ID (Identity) series is to transparently portray a person who I know, sympathize, love and/or remember through my experience that includes the moments I paint the person on a canvas”; this is how Lim himself describes this series.
ID #37
Oil on Canvas
Size: 11x11 inch
ID #28
Oil on Canvas
Size:18x14 inch
ID #18
Oil on Canvas
Size: 30x24 inch
In Zin Lim's own words, “Nomad series is an answer to the question, 'who' of ID series. It is visualize comprehensive human being as a traveler who practice unexpected life journeys in land”.
In addition, this series is illustrated by a text by Josseline Nayade Jeria:
"We humans are peculiar beings.
At our core, we all aspire to be and find beauty in genuine authenticity. We desire to be authentic not merely for our own sakes, but also for each and every person.
We are bothered by fake displays of our personhood and our lives. However, we can be troubled by displays of the human experience that aren't 'happy' or 'perfect'. Or, we get angry at others for having disparaging opinions or ideas to our own. There are a multitude of reasons why this may be the case. No one theory will be the generalizable to the entire population.
Rather, I think it is important to take a sceptical approach. Question yourself, why do I feel this way towards X (situation/event/idea etc)? We often just stop at the level of emotion, block it out or let it fuel your responses. But question yourself - why do I feel this way? What are the thoughts that come along with that emotional response? Often the resulting behavioural response is avoidance.
Avoidance was an evolutionary behavioural trait that developed to protect ourselves from harm. However, it can also function as a double-edged sword - disallowing us to expose ourselves to uncomfortable emotions, thoughts and situations. We may avoid because it makes us feel bad, angry, or uncomfortable.
These feelings can be related to deeper complex cognitive biases and patterns that emerged in response to situations/events that had a significant impact on your sense of self and/or your understandings of life and the world around you. Facing them head on can be excruciatingly difficult and painful, but facing them head on is the first step towards gaining a better understanding of yourself and of others lives and their circumstances.
We shouldn't hide away from sharing ourselves for all that we are, including our experiences. Now, this need not mean it is required of us to go into detail, because all of the conglomerate of our circumstances are different. However, how we respond to them aren't necessarily as different as we may think."
NOMAD 9
Oil on Canvas
Size: 20 x 16 inch
Created in 2016
NOMAD 3
Oil on Canvas
Size: 20 x 16 inch
Created in 2015
NOMAD 1
Oil on Canvas
Size: 30 x 20 inch
Created in 2015
The 'Allegro' series “is a temporary life event, carnival. Rhythm, melody, tone, bit motion and impromptu with the most primitive medium, charcoal or monochromatic oil rush.
Subtitle, (Spiccato) is a technique of violin playing which is similar to my way of holding tools and the way of stroke”.
Allegro NO. 152
Charcoal on Paper
Size: 24 x 18 inch
Year of Creation: 2017
Allegro NO. 170
Charcoal on Paper
Size: 17 x 14 inch
Year of Creation: 2020
Allegro NO. 162
Charcoal on Paper
Size: 24 x 18 inch
Year of Creation: 2018
After having reviewed Zin Lim's career, let me tell you something else: the artist will be at the Madrid Academy of Art from July 26th to 30th. Would you like to join us and see how Zin Lim works? Sign up!
Lecture and demonstrations of various visual art courses. (December 2018 –Present)
PARIS, FRANCE. 2/8-9
LONDON, UK. 2/15-16
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND. 2/22-23
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS. 3/25
BERLIN, GERMANY. 2/29-3/1
OSLO, NORWAY. 3/6-7
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO. 3/11-14
SCOTTSDALE, AZ, USA. 3/16-20
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA 3/22
CUPERTINO, CA, USA. 3/23
SAN DIEGO, CA, USA. 3/27
LOS ANGELES, CA, USA. 3/29-30
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA. 4/10
FLORENCE, ITALY. 11/3-7
Denver, CO, USA. 11/1-3.
Vancouver, BC, Canada. 10/27.
Seattle, WA, USA. 10/25-26.
Tokyo, Japan. 9/20-21.
Changsha, China. 7/26-28.
Seoul, South Korea. 7/19.
Seoul, South Korea. 7/6.
Sydney, NSW, Australia. 6/22-23.
Launceston, TAS, Australia. 6/20-21.
Melbourne, VIC, Australia. 6/7-9.
Fresno, CA, USA. 5/17.
Toronto, ON, Canada, 5/5.
Boston, MA, USA. 5/4.
Alameda, CA, USA. 4/26-28.
Amsterdam, Netherland. 4/13-14.
Berlin, Germany. 4/7.
Barcelona, Spain. 4/5.
Dubai, UAE. 3/29-30.
London, UK. 3/23-24.
Scottsdale, AZ, USA. 2/16-17.
Burlingame, CA, USA. 1/12-13, 19-20.
Tustin, CA, USA. 12/1-2.
London, UK. 11/3.
Lucca, Tuscany, Italy. 10/25-29.
Palo Alto, CA, USA. 10/13.
Houston, TX, USA. 10/6.
Atlanta, GA, USA. 9/29.
Montreal, QC, Canana. 9/15.
New York, NY, USA. 9/8.
Denver, CO, USA. 9/1.
Seattle, WA, USA. 8/25.
Burlingame, CA, USA. 8/19.
Taipei, Taiwan. 7/14.
Hong Kong, China. 7/7-8.
Seoul, South Korea. 7/4.
Seoul, South Korea. 6/22-23.
Seoul, South Korea. 6/15-16.
Valley Glen, CA, USA. 6/3.
Oakland, CA, USA. 5/26.
Fremont, CA, USA. 5/19.
Oakland, CA, USA. 5/12.
Burlingame, CA, USA. 3/24,31, 4/7,14,21.
Los Angeles, CA, USA. 3/10.
Burlingame, CA, USA. 2/3,10,17,24, 3/3
Creation of art video demos, editing and management.
(January 2017 – Present)
Responsible for building mission statement, bylaw and art curriculum and art critiques. (June 2012 – Present)
Teaching MFA drawing/painting courses at Graduate School of Fine Art and Illustration Dept. (September. 2006 – 2017)
Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA