Kenji Lim is a British artist based in Essex and born in Singapore. He works through sculpture, video, digital collage, installation, and painting, to produce objects, animations, and images that operate both individually, and collectively as installation and assembly. Lim’s work reflects and refracts the experience of landscape and the natural world through the prisms of culture, myth, philosophy, and the metaphysical; returning the gaze of Western cultural norms through the eyes of other-than-human actors. Part ecological, part Fraggle Rock, he navigates alternative modes of seeing and understanding the world and its inhabitants.
Lim studied Sculpture at the Royal College of Art, London (MA - 2017-2019); and the Ruskin School of Art, Oxford University (BFA - 1999-2002). He is currently an Acme Work/Live Artist at High House in Purfleet, Essex. Recent exhibitions include Spend Time Not Thinking About Tomorrow at IMT, London; Tourist at Galerie Reinthaler, Vienna; and Perishing Thirst at Quench Gallery, Margate.
Lim studied Sculpture at the Royal College of Art, London (MA - 2017-2019); and the Ruskin School of Art, Oxford University (BFA - 1999-2002). He is currently an Acme Work/Live Artist at High House in Purfleet, Essex. Recent exhibitions include Spend Time Not Thinking About Tomorrow at IMT, London; Tourist at Galerie Reinthaler, Vienna; and Perishing Thirst at Quench Gallery, Margate.
Education:
2017 - 2019 MA sculpture - Royal College of Art, London
1999 - 2002 BFA - Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art , Oxford University
Selected Exhibitions:
2024
An eXhibition of SMALL things with BIG ideas - White Conduit Projects, London
Something Quickening - Panrucker Gallery, London
Spend Time Not Thinking About Tomorrow - IMT Gallery, London (solo)
Potluck - 44AD, Bath
L'éte, c'est moi! - Galerie Reinthaler, Vienna
2023
Ten:th - Quip and Curiosity, Cambridge
Tourist - Galerie Reinthaler, Vienna
2022
Perishing Thirst - Quench Gallery, Margate
Shivering Cloud - Galerie Reinthaler, Vienna (solo)
There’s a Hole in My Neighbourhood - The London Arts Board (solo)
2021
Barbican Arts Group Artworks Open - ArtWorks Project Space, London
#37 Annual Open Exhibition - Southwark Park Galleries, London
Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival 2021 - Situated Deities screening
Situated Deities - The Stone Space, London (solo)
2020
Little Voices - Chelsea Telephone Exchange, London
Touch Me - online
Small Pleasures - DINA, Sheffield (online)
Arts Territory Exchange Sound Library - online
Biosphere Consciousness - Conscious Isolation, Instagram
Gardens of Earthly Delight, Instagram
Isolation - Conscious Isolation, Instagram
The Flood Machine - The Window Project, Cambridge (solo)
2019
Something Written or Recorded - a_space_is_a_space, Instagram
Neverafter - Galerie Reinthaler, Vienna
Re - Southwark Park Galleries, London
RCA Degree Show, RCA Kensington, London
Dirty Hands and Revelations - Standpoint, London
Merzibition - Courtyard Gallery, London
2018
#34 Annual Open Exhibition - Southwark Park Galleries, London
Sleep and the Unconcious - Savoir Beds, London
Supercult I & II — Hockney Gallery, London
WIP - RCA Sculpture, London
2017
Hanes: tales, stories, legends & myths - Aberystwyth Arts Centre
The Forest at the End of the World - Blue Ginger Gallery, Herefordshire
Embodied Cartographies - Walcot Chapel, Bath (part of Fringe Arts Bath)
Beasts of the Mabinogion - Oriel CRiC, Crickhowell
The Words Come From the Land - Porth Melgan, St. Davids, Pembrokeshire (solo)
Art + Text - 44AD, Bath
2016
Wells Art Contemporary 2016 - The Bishops Palace, Wells
Royal West of England Academy 164 Open Exhibition - RWA Bristol
Art Language Location - Cambridge
TimeFrame - 94 Walcot st, Bath (part of Fringe Arts Bath)
The Peace of Wild Things - Blue Ginger Gallery, Herefordshire
2015
Art Language Location - Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge
Royal West of England Academy 163 Open Exhibition - RWA Bristol
Beginning Times - The Globe at Hay, Hay-on-Wye (solo)
Love and Death at Walcot Chapel - Walcot Chapel, Bath (part of Fringe Arts Bath)
2014
Art Gemini Prize 2014 Exhibition - Tri-Space Gallery, London
East-West Art Award Competition (EWAAC) 2014 Exhibition - La Galleria, London
At Home With Strangers - Design Festa Gallery, Tokyo (solo)
2002
Ruskin Degree Show - Ruskin School, Oxford
Becks Futures Student Prize 2002 - ICA, London (and Touring)
Awards, Residencies and Publications:
08/2022 Sink or Float (publication)
06/2022 Arts Council England - Develop Your Creative Practice Grant
08/2022 Enter Art Fair, Copenhagen - Solo presentation with Galerie Reinthaler
12/2020 ACME Work/Live artist, Purfleet Essex (until 08/2024)
03/2020 Mustarinda, Finland - Residency including Slow Travel Grant
07/2019 Moonlight Is Sculpture - Publication
07/2018 Merz Barn Residency, Chapel Stile, Cumbria
09-10/2016 Mustarinda, Finland - Residency
10/2016 Wells Art Contemporary 2016 - Shortlisted
10/2015 Art Language Location, ALL2015 award - Winner
10/2014 The State of Art: Landscape & Portrait #1 - Bare Hill Publishing
09/2014 ArtGeminiPrize 2014 - Shortlisted
09/2014 East-West Art Award Competition (EWAAC) 2014 - Finalist
07/2002 Becks Futures Student Prize for Film and Video 2002 - Shortlisted
Press:
2024
London Art Roundup - Spend Time Not Thinking about Tomorrow review
Fad Magazine - The Top 5 Exhibitions To See In London In March
2023
Quench Podcast - How Did You Get Here?
2022
Parnass - Einer, von dem wir mehr sehen wollen: Kenji Lim in Wien
Wiener Zeitung - Kenji Lim: Bitte erst in 100 Jahren wecken
Les Nouveaux Riches - Interview with Kenji Lim
2017 - 2019 MA sculpture - Royal College of Art, London
1999 - 2002 BFA - Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art , Oxford University
Selected Exhibitions:
2024
An eXhibition of SMALL things with BIG ideas - White Conduit Projects, London
Something Quickening - Panrucker Gallery, London
Spend Time Not Thinking About Tomorrow - IMT Gallery, London (solo)
Potluck - 44AD, Bath
L'éte, c'est moi! - Galerie Reinthaler, Vienna
2023
Ten:th - Quip and Curiosity, Cambridge
Tourist - Galerie Reinthaler, Vienna
2022
Perishing Thirst - Quench Gallery, Margate
Shivering Cloud - Galerie Reinthaler, Vienna (solo)
There’s a Hole in My Neighbourhood - The London Arts Board (solo)
2021
Barbican Arts Group Artworks Open - ArtWorks Project Space, London
#37 Annual Open Exhibition - Southwark Park Galleries, London
Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival 2021 - Situated Deities screening
Situated Deities - The Stone Space, London (solo)
2020
Little Voices - Chelsea Telephone Exchange, London
Touch Me - online
Small Pleasures - DINA, Sheffield (online)
Arts Territory Exchange Sound Library - online
Biosphere Consciousness - Conscious Isolation, Instagram
Gardens of Earthly Delight, Instagram
Isolation - Conscious Isolation, Instagram
The Flood Machine - The Window Project, Cambridge (solo)
2019
Something Written or Recorded - a_space_is_a_space, Instagram
Neverafter - Galerie Reinthaler, Vienna
Re - Southwark Park Galleries, London
RCA Degree Show, RCA Kensington, London
Dirty Hands and Revelations - Standpoint, London
Merzibition - Courtyard Gallery, London
2018
#34 Annual Open Exhibition - Southwark Park Galleries, London
Sleep and the Unconcious - Savoir Beds, London
Supercult I & II — Hockney Gallery, London
WIP - RCA Sculpture, London
2017
Hanes: tales, stories, legends & myths - Aberystwyth Arts Centre
The Forest at the End of the World - Blue Ginger Gallery, Herefordshire
Embodied Cartographies - Walcot Chapel, Bath (part of Fringe Arts Bath)
Beasts of the Mabinogion - Oriel CRiC, Crickhowell
The Words Come From the Land - Porth Melgan, St. Davids, Pembrokeshire (solo)
Art + Text - 44AD, Bath
2016
Wells Art Contemporary 2016 - The Bishops Palace, Wells
Royal West of England Academy 164 Open Exhibition - RWA Bristol
Art Language Location - Cambridge
TimeFrame - 94 Walcot st, Bath (part of Fringe Arts Bath)
The Peace of Wild Things - Blue Ginger Gallery, Herefordshire
2015
Art Language Location - Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge
Royal West of England Academy 163 Open Exhibition - RWA Bristol
Beginning Times - The Globe at Hay, Hay-on-Wye (solo)
Love and Death at Walcot Chapel - Walcot Chapel, Bath (part of Fringe Arts Bath)
2014
Art Gemini Prize 2014 Exhibition - Tri-Space Gallery, London
East-West Art Award Competition (EWAAC) 2014 Exhibition - La Galleria, London
At Home With Strangers - Design Festa Gallery, Tokyo (solo)
2002
Ruskin Degree Show - Ruskin School, Oxford
Becks Futures Student Prize 2002 - ICA, London (and Touring)
Awards, Residencies and Publications:
08/2022 Sink or Float (publication)
06/2022 Arts Council England - Develop Your Creative Practice Grant
08/2022 Enter Art Fair, Copenhagen - Solo presentation with Galerie Reinthaler
12/2020 ACME Work/Live artist, Purfleet Essex (until 08/2024)
03/2020 Mustarinda, Finland - Residency including Slow Travel Grant
07/2019 Moonlight Is Sculpture - Publication
07/2018 Merz Barn Residency, Chapel Stile, Cumbria
09-10/2016 Mustarinda, Finland - Residency
10/2016 Wells Art Contemporary 2016 - Shortlisted
10/2015 Art Language Location, ALL2015 award - Winner
10/2014 The State of Art: Landscape & Portrait #1 - Bare Hill Publishing
09/2014 ArtGeminiPrize 2014 - Shortlisted
09/2014 East-West Art Award Competition (EWAAC) 2014 - Finalist
07/2002 Becks Futures Student Prize for Film and Video 2002 - Shortlisted
Press:
2024
London Art Roundup - Spend Time Not Thinking about Tomorrow review
Fad Magazine - The Top 5 Exhibitions To See In London In March
2023
Quench Podcast - How Did You Get Here?
2022
Parnass - Einer, von dem wir mehr sehen wollen: Kenji Lim in Wien
Wiener Zeitung - Kenji Lim: Bitte erst in 100 Jahren wecken
Les Nouveaux Riches - Interview with Kenji Lim
