Volume 3, No. 41 October 24, 2003
SCAD lands world-traveling historian By Anne Swartz, Ph.D. “Surprisingly enthusiastic students,” responded Keehong Kim, Ph.D., a new professor in art history, when asked about his initial impressions of students at the Savannah College of Art and Design. He also mentioned that he feels SCAD, Savannah and the students are all “blooming.” He said his adjustment so far has gone well. “I’m really enjoying Southern hospitality [and am adjusting] to SCAD very positively,” he said. Kim is a world traveler, most recently living in Hawaii and California. He is a native of Seoul, Korea, and holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Seoul National University. More unusual, he received his Ph.D. from Sorbonne University of Paris, which is considered one of the best institutions in the world for advanced study in the humanities. He has taught art history at several universities in Korea, including Seoul National University, as well as at the University of Southern California, the Korean Cultural Center in Los Angeles and, most recently, at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. He remains an associate researcher at the Center for the Research of Extreme Orient in Sorbonne University of Paris. In addition to his work in the academic world, Kim has been involved in the museum domain and has served as a senior curator of the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Seoul. He still has a position as a senior researcher at The Center for the Study of Korean Arts at The Gan Song Art Museum in Seoul. He also is finishing the basic research for a book about Korean art history. His other research interests include his ongoing study about the intercultural relationship during 18th and 19th centuries among China, Korea and Japan with a major focus on the Chinese Qing Dynasty literati painting style and its influence; he has published various aspects of his findings in several publications thus far. In addition to his work as a professor and scholar, Kim also is a painter. His paintings emphasize geometric framing elements for band of color or abstract signs and images. His palette emphasizes somber colors presented in a fresh manner. He has had several solo exhibitions of his work since 1995, including two recent exhibitions of his work at BGH Gallery located in Bergamot Station Art Center in Santa Monica, Calif. Kim’s fresh perspective of the study of Asian art and engaged approach should be of interest to students, especially as he knows the challenges of balancing studio work with classroom preparations. Swartz is an art history professor.
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