Embracing the ordinary
- Yongjoo is an artist specialising in fibre art and textiles
- She finds beauty in every day materials
- She embraces gravity as a tool in her art creation
Yongjoo Kim was born and raised in Seoul, a bustling city of 10 million people in which she habitually observed the fashion choices of others. When she moved to Providence in the USA for graduate school in 2007, the contrast was striking. The streets were often empty, and people moved slowly. She began to notice her surroundings differently, sparking curiosity in things she had overlooked before. As she got used to her environment, her choice of materials in her art evolved. While she had previously favoured precious metals, she began exploring ordinary materials such as nails, beans, and hook-and-loop fasteners, discovering their hidden beauty through a process of reconfiguration. In 2009, Yongjoo chose to focus on the fasteners, drawn by their tactile qualities and affordability. Her creative process involves cutting and assembling these materials into unpredictable forms, navigating uncertainty to create surprising and beautiful artwork.
Interview
- Can you describe your first work?
- I initially wanted to create something shaped like a black hole. However, I found it challenging to work against gravity, so I decided to embrace it instead. That was a game-changer for me. I discovered how to use gravity to create surprising and beautiful forms.
- What do you like most about your work?
- I often get stuck and feel like my creativity has limits, but to 'survive' as an artist, I push through those moments. Embracing surprises along the way usually leads to art that goes beyond my imagination, showing me beauty, inspiration, and endless possibilities to share with others.
- What is something people do not usually know about your work?
- Many artists create to express a vision, but for me, it is often the pressure to keep producing. This made me doubt if I was a 'real artist'. Working on the The Sign of Life exhibition, I realised that just as mountains and valleys are formed under immense pressure and weight, so is my artwork. This parallel with nature’s beauty gave me confidence to embrace my process as organic and authentic.
- Where do you find inspiration for your work?
- My biggest inspiration comes from the surprising experiences I have with my materials. About four years into my career, I noticed how hook-and-loop fasteners change shape when influenced by gravity. A few years later, I started experimenting by composing them into fabric and applying pressure, which revealed unexpected forms. Over time, I realised I could channel my own feelings of pressure and weight directly into my art.
Yongjoo Kim is a master artisan: she began her career in 2009 and she started teaching in 2009
Where
Yongjoo Kim
