Noah Kim Spaans

A New Season And A New Guest!

Weave into this week of open studios with our artist resident Noah Kim Spaans (2002, Tiel, Netherlands). Recently graduated from HKU, Noah Kim has arrived at the gallery for our third artist residency. Noah will not only reside in our space, but their work is also based on the idea of left-behind traces. Starting in early September, Noah will be painting, pulling threads, and wrinkling fabrics on the gallery walls, playfully exploring the balance between a fixed and changing identity.

Find here the catalogue

The show will be on view from September 13 to October 12, 2024

Madé van Krimpen
Prinsengracht 615 H
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Noah starts by randomly placing nails in the wall, almost by chance. They then attach the fabric to these nails, and when the fabric gets wet, it sticks to the wall and drapes naturally around the nails. This method lets the fabric create its own wrinkles and folds. Noah then adds a layer of acrylic paint to the fabric, continuing to explore how it moves and interacts with the space. They look at how paint and fabric work together, letting one stand out more than the other depending on what catches their eye. Noah is attentive to how the materials behave: “When I drape the fabric, I want it to follow its natural form. I try to keep it simple by adding just one stitch or pulling threads to create tension” (Noah).

From the technical to the deeply personal, Noah has created a special way of expressing their inner thoughts and feelings. One symbol they use is the flower, which represents the end of a chapter in their life—a symbol of who they used to be. As these flowers wilt and become fragile over time, they reflect Noah's connection to the past: things change and fade, but they reveal a deeper beauty.

Come to the open studio to see the results of Noah's work—dripping paint, textured fabrics, and spontaneous marks on the walls.