Alex (Jae Hyun Kim)

#Even_So_Fantasia #Saessak_Class #Art_Language

Fields or Genres : Media Arts

Location/Platform : Seoul, Korea / Gyeonggi-do, Korea / Boston, USA


Q. Tell Me about Yourself

My artistic practice focuses on discovering ‘fantasia’ in daily life as a fragile and incomplete form. In this aspect, I use art language to create a shared space (‘fantasia’) where I and others can feel a sense of “being with” in this world. I'm also researching the philosophy of art education for my Ph.D. program at Seoul National University and giving lectures on arts education, media art, and aesthetics at Korea University. I'm also a visual artist for The Halfmoon’s Creative Team in Boston, USA.


Q. What Is Your Driving Force or Inspiration of Your Practice?

“Incompleteness.” If I were a perfect, complete being, I would not have the thirst or need for communication and expression. When I accept the incompleteness as it is, it seems like I find myself moving around in this chaotic but somewhat harmonized world, clumsily but enjoying myself.


Q. What is a Teaching Artist?
Describe the Teaching Artist You Would Like to Become in Ten Years.

I don’t have an intention to be a “teaching artist” as my ultimate goal in life. I hope I will still be living as myself in 10 years, having a simple life while giving and receiving love. I hope I will think more about ‘life’ and ‘how to love like a human’ rather than the words like ‘arts’ or ‘education.’


Q. What is the Metaphor, the Right Word, for your Practice?
And Why?

Crumpled paper. My work is about adding ‘wrinkles’ and my ‘touch’ by ‘cumpling’ what has not encountered or intersected with anything novel or stimulating, yet, like a white sheet of paper.


Q. What Do Colleagues Mean to You?

A person with whom I can comfortably play with paper. A friend with whom I can honestly share thoughts about ‘beauty’ and ‘pain’ as we crumple the paper.