claudia yeejae kim (with Scott Lerner)
Trading in Poppies
Ceramic vases, trays, silk poppy flowers, Jewish baked goods
This work seeks to capture the inherent contradictions of the Sassoon family, juxtaposing their generous contributions to society - such as supporting the arts and rescuing Jews during WWII - with their involvement in the highly immoral opium trade. This mixture of kindness and callousness is embodied by the poppy, which is at once a source of culinary pleasure and of a debilitating narcotic. The ceramics on which the baked goods are served feature a blend of blue and white style traditions from Asia, the Middle East, and Western Europe, reflecting the cultural influences of the various places where the Sassoons have lived.
Ceramic vases, trays, silk poppy flowers, Jewish baked goods
This work seeks to capture the inherent contradictions of the Sassoon family, juxtaposing their generous contributions to society - such as supporting the arts and rescuing Jews during WWII - with their involvement in the highly immoral opium trade. This mixture of kindness and callousness is embodied by the poppy, which is at once a source of culinary pleasure and of a debilitating narcotic. The ceramics on which the baked goods are served feature a blend of blue and white style traditions from Asia, the Middle East, and Western Europe, reflecting the cultural influences of the various places where the Sassoons have lived.
claudia yeejae kim is an artist, whose conceptual artworks explore identity and gender constructs: Korean cultural expectations of women in South Korea as well as various racist social stigmas against ‘Asians’ in America. She seeks to uncover covert forms of microaggression, fetishization, and stereotyping that she is forced to process on a daily basis. She received her BA from the University of California, Davis and a Post Baccalaureate from Brandeis University. She is currently an MFA candidate at Columbia University in the City of New York.
SCOTT LERNER is a sculptor whose work fuses ancient relics and science fiction technology. He received his MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and his BA from Oberlin College. His work has most recently been included in “A Long Line” at Gallery 263 and “No White Walls” at Yale University. He currently teaches art history at RISD.
yeejaekim.com︎︎︎scottlernerart.com︎︎︎
@mynameisnot_yee @scottlernerart
SCOTT LERNER is a sculptor whose work fuses ancient relics and science fiction technology. He received his MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and his BA from Oberlin College. His work has most recently been included in “A Long Line” at Gallery 263 and “No White Walls” at Yale University. He currently teaches art history at RISD.
yeejaekim.com︎︎︎scottlernerart.com︎︎︎
@mynameisnot_yee @scottlernerart
