Christine Sun Kim: Cues on Point – An Exhibition Exploring Deaf Identity at Secession

This exhibition features the work of Christine Sun Kim, exploring themes of language, sound, body, identity, and societal exclusion. Visitors can expect to see a range of works including drawings and video installations that dynamically address the experiences of Deaf individuals.

Christine Sun Kim's exhibition 'Cues on Point' delves into her multifaceted artistic practice, characterized by rhythm and dynamism across various mediums from small drawings to large-scale wall pieces. The exhibition critically examines societal norms, exclusion principles, and the structural marginalization faced by the Deaf community. Kim's work often uses graphic elements inspired by infographics and comic-style speed lines to convey action and reaction. Central themes include language, sound, body, identity, diaspora, and translation, highlighting the challenges of communication in a hearing-dominant society and advocating for greater visibility and accessibility for Deaf individuals. The exhibition features recent works that continue her exploration of 'echoes'—symbolizing the delays and distortions in communication with hearing people—and 'debts,' reflecting societal conventions and personal obligations. The visual language of the exhibition combines written text with imagery, transforming the flatness of paper into a more spatial and embodied experience. The exhibition composition at Secession includes a monumental mural, videos, and drawings, designed with a rhythmic and melodic flow alternating between loud and quiet zones. A striking mural based on 'Long Echo' dominates the space, while drawings from the 'Echo Trap' series create a sense of pulsating movement. The centerpiece is the two-channel video work 'Cues on Point' (2022), which explores Kim's experience performing American Sign Language at the Super Bowl in 2020 and the subsequent camera focus shifts. The exhibition also references the nuances between singing and signing, as seen in 'Sign Sing' and 'Tiktok Dilemma,' highlighting how the equation of one form of expression with another can silence or misrepresent it. The works are predominantly in black and white, with charcoal drawings emphasizing depth and the artist's process.

Ticket information is available via a link to eventjet.at/secession. The Secession is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM. Admission details are likely covered by general museum entry tickets, which can be accessed via the provided ticketing link or general information pages on the Secession website. Specific exhibition pricing is not detailed on this page but is directed to the ticketing portal.