Kim Buck

Believe it or not, Kim Buck works in charcoal, not photography.
Sophie Dixon
December 07, 2011

Overview

Believe it or not, Kim Buck works in charcoal, not photography. The incredible detail that is found in her work stems not from the mechanical recording of something in real life, but rather through Kim’s innate skill for producing hyper-real images in pencil and charcoal; a skill that was ‘stumbled upon’ and self-taught, rather than fostered in the traditional sense.

The wonderful thing about realistic drawing is that although it mirrors the world around in its clarity and perfection, the medium of paper and charcoal bears a soft, tactile quality that lies in distinct opposition to this. It is the tension between the two that makes realist drawing so appealing.

It is little wonder then that Kim was recently awarded South Australia’s top award for an arts graduate – the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Award – and also took the cake at the 2010 Limestone Coast Art Prize and the People’s Choice Prize at the 2010 Helpmann Academy Graduate Exhibition.

In an exhibition at Jan Murphy Galleries in the Valley, Kim will showcase her work in charcoal, hopefully making it her fourth sell-out solo show since 2007.

Image credit: Kim Buck, 'Eternal Return', 2010

Information

Tap and select Add to Home Screen to access Concrete Playground easily next time. x