Sung Hee Kim is a Korean artist, who hopes that through her artworks she can make happy not only herself but also the people around the world. I was introduced to her world of art at the Korean Art London exhibition at the Mall Galleries in July, 2023 and since then I have been a fan of her captivating and thought-inspiring artistry. Gleaming and glittering peacefulness and pure joy of life, Kim’s artworks radiate friendliness and connectivity. 

Kim has a strong online presence: her Instagram account (@sungheekim_arts) is frequently updated and she also shares daily glimpses of her art studio and adorable dog via stories. Browsing through her official website (www.sungheekim.co.kr), you can feel her wish to create a bridge to people. The pure simplicity delicately guides the visitors through the various channels to appreciate her artworks - an ultimate representative of Kim’s motto.

While preparing a review for the London Korean Film Festival’s screening of ‘Concerning My Daughter,’ I was especially grateful to her for giving me permission to include some of her paintings in my article. This event and her upcoming exhibition at the Seoul Art Show 2024 at COEX in Seoul on December 24-28 initiated a conversation about her career, artistic process and inspirations.

The following is excerpts from the interview conducted via email and social media between November 12 – December 17, 2024.

The first sentence about you on your website states that you started your art career "to make [yourself] and people around the world happy." Can you tell us more about this motto?

Sometimes you have to live a life rather than just let your life flow by itself. In those challenging times, art helped me overcome the difficulties and reconcile my life in two distinct ways. 

One of them is how the act of drawing and painting have made me who I am. Growing up in three different countries, I had to use most of my energy to adjust to new cultures and societies.  As an introvert, I felt more comfortable exploring myself through painting rather than words. After many nights expressing my thoughts through my art, I have learned that understanding others is necessary to understand who I am. I also discovered that I needed my friends and family to be happy to make myself happy.

The other one is the love I have received from the artworks by other artists throughout history. Art is not food that makes your body stay alive; it is like the oxygen for your happiness. Love expands when you enjoy it with others, instead of keeping it locked in. From this experience, I wanted to share my artwork to make it more meaningful than just a piece of paper. It was natural for me to wish for my artworks to have the same power of love that I have received. 

These two powers of art encouraged me to paint as a professional artist. I believe that my career as an artist will be successful if my works can make people and the world happy.

You grew up in South Korea, Japan and the UK. How has this international environment shaped your life as an artist?

I had to try my best to fit in every time I moved to a new country. To do so, I observed people and tried to answer the questions raised by the differences between cultures. Understanding these similarities and differences gradually grew into the love for humanity, and it is still the most important subject in my life as an artist. 

Furthermore, my questioning habit led me to develop an interest in the creative contents people make. The books, movies, music, theatre, architecture and cooking I experienced while traveling internationally, all have become important inspirations to my artworks. 

How have you decided to become an artist? What has been the most challenging on your journey?

I never decided to become an artist; I have viewed myself as an artist ever since I was 7 years old. Choosing to be a professional artist was a natural decision for me because it is how I can share my works with other people. 

It has been a challenge to work with galleries focused entirely on sales. I try my best to protect my intention and creativity from their advice on what is easier to sell.

Through your artworks, you experiment with a unique mixture of artistic styles. I have just recently noticed glitters sparkling on some of your paintings. What has attracted you to combine traditional and contemporary methods?

My passion for using glitter comes from a childhood memory when I was surrounded by fireflies in a forest in Japan. Ever since, I have adored sparkling objects in the world such as stars, gems and ornaments on Christmas trees. The combination of traditional and contemporary methods is not simply about the methods themselves. It is both a subconscious and conscious way to express the combination of my past experiences and who I am now as a person and as an artist. 

Nature is an integral part of your artworks. The recurring elements of birds and trees fascinate your audience. How have you decided on using them as primary expressive tools?

Enjoying the beauty of nature has always been a part of my daily life. Fortunately, I have been living in houses that are surrounded by trees, where I can hear the birds sing. I admire the freedom of the birds and wish to be stable like the trees at the same time. Those ideas might sound conflicting, but I believe true freedom is not about just running free. The trees and birds taught me that the strong and sturdy inner power you build through life’s challenges is the real freedom of your soul. That is why the birds are the symbol of freedom or spirit, and trees are the symbol of my inner power in my works.

A comfortable-looking chair is also a common element of your digital artwork, presented as part of nature. What is your inspiration behind this symbol?

The comfortable chair in my works is the symbol of meditation, peace and mind. As long as I can remember, I have had a comfortable chair next to my window. I drink tea, enjoy the nature over the window, and get lost in time meditating in that chair. It is like a private classroom where I can ask questions to myself and look for answers. The moment I paint the chair on canvas is when I realise the answer to the question. My comfortable chair gives me the strength to go through difficult times in life. It is a place that enables me to understand the world better. 

Your studio gives a very clean, fresh and calm atmosphere, surrounded by nature. How important is it for you to find a space to create? What is the usual process you follow?

It is very important for me to find a space where I would like to create. I enjoy listening to the sounds while rain drops, birds sing and wind blows when I paint. I also like to see the trees and flowers where I can meditate in the creative process. Therefore, I try to find a space where I can be myself and be an artist. I do not seek out commercial spaces as they make art-creation feel mechanical, not creative.  

You offer your artwork to rent at Opengallery. What has made you consider this form of sharing art?

I want to share my art to broad audiences, following the footsteps of other artists who have expressed their love for the world on canvas. I view enjoying art as a necessary activity in someone’s life, but it can be expensive. That is why I try to reduce the hurdle for everyone to be able to enjoy my artwork. Hence, renting out my artworks through Opengallery is one of the ways to do so effectively. As an extension of this approach, I actively try to license my artwork, so that it can be appreciated more easily by broader audiences in daily life. 

You have participated in exhibitions around the world. Which has made you the proudest?

I cannot choose one specific exhibition that makes me proud. But I am proud of this world where we can still exhibit artworks on the walls – in a physical, in-person environment. I know that we need a lot of efforts from many people to appreciate art, especially when there are wars and many other serious problems in the world. I am proud of the people who try to make a difference through art and I feel proud that I am sharing this world with them. 

Can you share some of your upcoming projects?

My next exhibition will be at the Seoul Art Show 2024, held this December between 24-28 at COEX in Seoul. However, my upcoming projects include reading books, watching new movies, and taking a trip to the United States to get inspiration for my newest series, called ‘World Series.’ I am also working on a long-term project to write children’s books and continuing to design art goods. 

I hope I can continue sharing and licensing my artworks in the future and that they can make diverse audiences happy. I also look forward to find a publisher so that I can share my book with everyone.

You mentioned you like the sparkly Christmas ornaments. As the Christmas season is around the corner, is there anything special you are planning to do during the festive season this year and what message would you like to share with our Korea.net readers? 

I mostly try to spend time with my family and friends in the holiday season. When I am alone, though, I review the past year and make plans for the next one. I am reading one of my favourite children’s books, ‘The Table Where Rich People Sit’ by Byrd Baylor, for this year’s review process. This is a book that encourages me to believe in what I think is valuable. 

It is nice to add a new shiny ornament to my heart when roads are decorated with sparkling lights for the holidays. I hope you can also cherish your own lights in your heart.