Cindy Ji Hye Kim
Ego Pathétique
2023
Published by Foreign & Domestic Editions
UV pigment on translucent Unryu paper made with kozo fiber and chiri bark
16 × 12 inches
40.6 x 30.5 cm
Edition of 30; 8 AP; 2 PP
Numbered and signed individually by artist
Unframed (images showing framed prints are for illustration purposes only)
Includes Certificate of Authenticity

This edition is a print of a painting titled ‘Ego Pathétique’, a work that belongs to ‘Soliloquy for Two’, a major installation exhibited at François Ghebaly, Los Angeles, and acquired by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). This body of work evokes theatrical themes—suggesting a stage where emotions, narratives, and intentions unfold. Whilst 'soliloquy' typically refers to a character's thoughts to one's self, the proposition for a soliloquy for two hints at the dialogic interplay between the artist and the viewer.

"Pathétique" is a term used in music meaning to evoke pity, passion, and deep expression. The imagery here depicts upright tree encircled by paper dolls, twisting upwards as a scorpion emanates from the shadows. This juxtaposition, much like the contrasting movements in a musical piece, captures the essence of human experiences—the harmonies and the discords, the highs and the lows, and the constant interplay between light and darkness.