YunYoung Kim
YunYoung Kim (b.1989 in Korea, currently residing in Germany) is a mixed-media artist who explores beauty through the emotions evoked by memory in her work. While initially trained in the traditional realm of oriental painting at Sungshin Women's University in Korea, she studied Textile Art at Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule in Halle, Germany, under the guidance of Prof. Caroline Achaintre. Inspired by her mother and aunts, who skillfully knitted her clothing during her formative years and continue imbuing their craft into her life, Kim seamlessly blends these elements into her creative approach, crafting her unique style.
While most of her recent work is in textile and embroidery media, she has also produced installations, interactive public art projects, prints and drawings on paper, and oil on canvas. Currently, Kim has been focusing on thread paintings and drawings, employing strands as her medium, with simplified forms and abstract figures, free from the pre-established embroidery standards. Her primitive style, infused with humor and playfulness, evokes the natural world primarily through emotional connections with her surroundings. Nature and the environment have always been essential factors influencing her creations. Being conscious of issues regarding environmental sustainability, all of her textile works have been sourced from waste fabrics she's collected.
Kim's works and projects have been exhibited in Germany and Korea, including Volkspark Galerie in Halle, Heroines' Wave in Bangkok, WRM Space in Seoul, Room Boom art festival in Schkeuditz, and FELLINI Gallery in Berlin. She held her first solo exhibition (2023) at Rabbit & Tiger Gallery in Seoul, showcasing her new embroidered pieces alongside monotype prints.