The exchange event with junior high school students began with Kimsooja expressing her intention: “What I am about to do now is not merely explain each piece of work, but rather create a moment of artistic chemistry, where my words, your imagination, and the artwork itself merge to spark a dialogue.” She displayed numerous pieces of her work on screen, sharing how the Korean artist perceives everyday phenomena and transforms them into her creations.

“I have always wanted to transcend the boundaries of people, countries, and other barriers through my artwork, ever since I began as an oil painting artist,” Kimsooja stated. She recalled the moment when her artistic expression first emerged: “As I was sewing a bottari, Korea’s traditional wrapping cloth made from a bedcover for my mother, the instant I pushed the needle into the fabric, I felt as if an electric shock had struck me.”
Her presentation, which included images of vividly colored fabric artworks and light installations, inspired the students to ask questions one after another. Each embroidery on the bottari carries symbolic meanings, such as love and prosperity for future generations, which deepened the students’ interest in Asian cultures through her artwork. The event concluded with words of gratitude from a student representative, accompanied by warm applause from the entire audience.

Comments from Students

・I could relate to her intention to not only paint but to express life thought her artwork.

・Her works using light properties were extremely beautiful. I was amazed by her ability to think from various perspectives.

・When I heard that Kimsooja constantly thought of broadening the perspective of the world, I thought that I wanted to be able to think like her.