2130 W. Fulton St., Chicago, IL 60612
Wednesday-Thursday: 11AM-5PM
Friday-Saturday: by advance appointment
10.24
There Between Light and Shadow
Friday, September 6, 2024 from 5-8pm
Youree Kim Alex Kostiw
Chicago Artists Coalition proudly presents There Between Light and Shadow, a two-person exhibition by 2023-24 HATCH Residents Youree Kim and Alex Belardo Kostiw, curated by Yiwei Leo Wang.
There Between Light and Shadow is a duo exhibition exploring the interplay between history, memory, and identity through the complementary works of Youree Kim and Alex B. Kostiw. Both artists delve into the spaces in between—whether physical, temporal, or conceptual—to challenge conventional narratives and reveal unseen forces shaping our world.
Youree Kim’s work navigates the historical implications of “red line,” a term with roots in political and economic tactics, but one that extends into various facets of marginalization. By rooting in the socio-political landscape of transnational history, Kim examines how borders, both literal and metaphorical, influence identity and community. By juxtaposing visual elements from different cultures and time periods, Kim invites viewers to reflect on the intersecting narratives of oppression and resilience. Kim speaks to the enduring impact of historical events on contemporary urban landscapes from local to global territories.
Alex B. Kostiw’s practice navigates the personal and the ethereal, focusing on the ephemeral nature of time and existence. Through text, paper and ceramic sculpture, and cyanotypes, Kostiw’s work contemplates the transience and fluidity of stories. Her interactive installations evoke a dreamlike state, where reality blurs with myth, and the viewer is left to ponder the stories that unfold beneath consciousness. Kostiw used mythological and natural imagery to question what it means to belong to, to be in, a moment. By engaging with ancient and personal narratives, Kostiw crafts a world where the past and present converge, inviting viewers to explore their place in shifting landscapes.
Together, Kim and Kostiw create a dialogue between the political and poetic, historical and personal. Their works explore how stories—both individual and collective—are constructed, deconstructed, remembered, and reimagined, inviting viewers to traverse the liminal spaces defining human experience.
- Yiwei Leo Wang
The opening reception will be on September 6 from 5-8pm.
Image: Provided by Alex B. Kostiw
About Artists
Youree Kim (they/them) is an interdisciplinary disability artist, activist, and researcher based in Chicago. Youree’s works seek to navigate the complicated realities of how disabilities are produced, perceived, and represented in the face of critical sociopolitical issues. Their process involves intricate research on disability history, representation, and narratives, and conversations with various entities and collaborators. They have Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a Master's degree in public policy and human rights at Adler University. Their writings were shared at Truthout, AK Press, Riksha magazine, Spork!, and more.
A black and white image shows a group of people holding balloons before releasing them to the sky. The bottom text reads, “At Truman College. During a vigil for victims of police violence. July 12th, 2016.”
Alex Belardo Kostiw is an artist, designer, and educator in Chicago. Her practice deals in poetic, adapted, and iterative elements, visual structures of comics, and conceptually driven forms. Through storytelling, Alex frames nebulous moments in familiar experiences, making room for perceptions to shift and transform. She is most interested in how knowledge takes shape in and relates to imagination. Themes in her work include the hidden parts and possibilities within the self; human connections defying time and space; the limits of language; and the interactivity of reading.
Alex holds an MFA in Visual Communication Design from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a BA in English Literature from the University of Chicago. Her work has been exhibited at the Evanston Art Center, Co-Prosperity in Chicago, and Carlow University Art Gallery, among others.
