KIM CHIGI | 2ND PLACE
2025 ABSTRACTS/SEMI-ABSTRACTS COMPETITION

Abstract artist, Kim Chigi, lives and works in Petaluma, California. Her thought-provoking work is often an expression of the artist’s psyche and emotions she feels when traveling. “I’m drawn to the liminal space between departure and arrival,” she explains, “the quiet moments when you are alone in an unfamiliar place, suspended between the weight of isolation and the exhilaration of freedom.” We recently spoke with Chigi about the concepts behind her art.

What are you trying to convey in your piece, “AnavriN?”

In my painting, “AnavriN,” I employ a combination of contrasting colors, textures, and spatial dynamics to invite a deeper reflection on themes like transition, balance, and the interplay between solid and ephemeral aspects of existence.

Inverting the word Nirvana in the title permits me to psychologically approach the painting from a different perspective, allowing the meaning of the word to remain, visually disguising it while reminding myself there is always another side or a different point of view. It suggests that rather than achieving a state of perfect peace, one is stuck in a threshold of ambiguity, forever suspended in between the self and Nirvana.

How do you translate your travel experiences into abstract artwork?

I begin by considering the emotional landscape of my journey — using color to evoke the feelings tied to a place, whether the cool calm of the ocean, or the vibrancy of a bustling city. Texture can capture the tactile sensations I encounter; smooth, rough, layered, or fragmented surfaces might mirror the varied terrains or contrasts in culture.

Ultimately, the abstraction expresses the underlying energy, atmosphere, and mood of my travels rather than a direct visual recounting, allowing the viewer to experience the journey in an intuitive, personal way.

Why do you use writing or images with text in your paintings?

I often include text, letters, and numbers, transforming their conventional roles as communicative symbols into potent visual elements that convey meaning through their form, rhythm, and associations.

Letters and words may become fragmented or distorted, suggesting themes of disintegration, communication barriers, or the malleability of language. I integrate them into an abstract composition when they help evoke a sense of narrative or structure, while also encouraging a deeper, more intuitive interpretation.

All artwork © Kim Chigi, shared with permission.