The Meditation Chamber – Joshua Kim
The Meditation Chamber: The Liminal Phase
Joshua Kim
Joshua Kim is a student at Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN) studying Art and
Religious Studies (Honors). He has conducted ethnographic research on diverse religious traditions through the support of Vanderbilt University’s Sidney & Becca Fleischer Awards (2024). He also worked in academic positions, including Research Assistant at Kookmin University in Seoul, South Korea (2022-2023) and Teaching Assistant at Biola University in La Mirada, CA (2022-2023). He founded and served as the first President of the Korean Student Association at Biola University (2022). He worked as a Community Service Events Director in Mt. Church Sinai in Seoul, South Korea (2022), serving the local community. He has been volunteering for almost a decade to better the neighboring communities through Church Mt. Sinai (2024), Sarang Church in Seoul, South Korea (2014-2021), and D.E.C. in Rowland Heights, CA (2021-2022). He was a recognized International Service Trip Missionary serving the Philippines Community (2018-2019).
About the installation:
I am an artist exploring the interdisciplinary relationship between art and religion. I examine the themes of spirituality, introspection, and interfaith dialogue through photography, painting, and mixed-media artworks. Reflecting on my childhood experience, navigating life as a single-parent child in a society that shamed fatherless households, my work is dedicated to providing emotional and spiritual support to individuals coming from marginalized communities. The Meditative Chamber: The Liminal Phase is a piece that continues to embody my commitment to spiritual care.
The Meditative Chamber is an immersive painting, sound, and installation work designed to create a space for contemplation, rest, and spiritual reflection. In our fast-paced contemporary society, finding the time and location to immerse ourselves in a quiet time of self-care is challenging. This challenge is relevant to Vanderbilt and the neighboring community, as many individuals are encountering mental, emotional, and spiritual struggles due to various circumstances. To explore these themes of inner-self and support our community, I devised an art project on meditation. The work aims to raise awareness about mental/spiritual health while simultaneously providing a safe haven where visitors can connect with themselves through introspection. This artwork creates an inclusive space for individuals from all walks of life to experience a peaceful meditation.
As visitors enter the exhibition, they will see four large-scale abstract paintings. Influenced by Abstract Expressionism’s color field artists, these works display expansive fields of deep colors and abstract form. The pieces are designed to evoke spiritual effervescence and meditative emotions. I use layered gradients, soft textures, and abstract images in these paintings to create a visual impression that helps viewers immerse themselves in calm reflection. Influenced by Mark Rothko’s Chapel and the abstract photographs of Uta Barth, these paintings invite the viewer to rest in the space free from distraction. Moreover, drawing inspiration from artists like Agnes Martin, whose works embody tranquility, and James Turrell, who uses light to transform physical spaces into spiritual experiences, I aimed to create an environment that transcends the physical and the visual.
The Meditative Chamber extends beyond the visual experience––the chamber fosters a multi-sensory environment that invites audiences to connect with their inner selves. Cushioned seating and soft carpeting provide comfort, encouraging viewers to actively engage with the space physically. Additionally, by incorporating ambient sound, the chamber offers a full sensory environment where sound, space, and color harmonize to create a place for exploring spirituality. I believe that art can function as a tool for healing and mental well-being. In a time when many individuals struggle with anxiety, stress, and burnout, The Meditative Chamber offers a place to slow down and reflect. It is a space where individuals of various backgrounds can find their own meaning in the quietness and engage in personal introspection. Therefore, The Meditative Chamber is not just an art installation; it is an experience, an invitation to pause in a world that
rarely allows rest.
The installation:
