Kimsooja's work captivates me on many levels. I deeply relate to her exploration of nomadic existence and the way she expresses themes of movement and identity. Her installations, with their minimal yet impactful design, possess a dreamy quality that resonates with my own aesthetic sensibilities. I was also honored to be interviewed by Kimsooja and her team for a potential collaboration, which, though it didn't materialize, remains a meaningful experience. This connection makes her a significant figure in my Artist Spotlight series, where I celebrate the profound influence of her work on my creative journey.
Kimsooja is a globally recognized multi-disciplinary artist based in New York, Paris, and Seoul, working across painting, sculpture, installations, performances, and videos. Known for her nomadic approach, her work delves into themes of exile, travel, and the movement of people, centering around the Korean tradition of the bottari—a fabric-wrapped bundle symbolizing a self-contained world. By reinterpreting the bottari as both an object and a symbol, Kimsooja reflects on the experiences of migration and identity. Her contemplative aesthetic, rooted in "non-doing," invites viewers to engage deeply with the intangible aspects of art and life, such as time and space. Kimsooja’s work has been featured in major art biennials, including São Paulo and Venice, and she has exhibited at prestigious institutions like MoMA PS1, the Guggenheim Bilbao, and the Centre Pompidou-Metz. In 2017, she was honored as a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture, and in 2022, she unveiled her stained-glass window designs for Metz’s gothic cathedral.
