Bio

Hyojin Kim is a sculptor and educator based in Seoul, Korea, and currently living in Tokyo, Japan.  She received a B.F.A. from the University of Seoul and an M.F.A. from Seoul National University. She also received a Ph.D. in Fine Art at the Tokyo University of the Arts, majoring in Metal Casting. Now, she currently works as a Teaching and Research Assistant at the Department of Metal Casting in Tokyo University of the Arts.

She creates original, imaginative artworks by breaking away from the dichotomous thinking of traditional and modern crafts, pursuing a balanced crafting method that varies from traditional casting techniques that solely use the properties of soil to modern methods of precision casting machines. From prototyping to casting, Kim runs the entire production process herself, covering a wide range of metalwork from contemporary jewelry to large-scale sculptures.

The expression field is gradually expanding to Europe and the United States, starting with Asia as an invited artist. She has been focusing her research and produce on crafts, sculptures, and jewelry using metal as the primary material. Also, she makes eco-friendly artworks, especially using various metal casting techniques - ceramic shell molds, gypsum casting, vacuum casting - as well as traditional casting techniques using the properties of soil.

Professional Appointments

2021. 09 - present

Teaching and Research Assistant

Department of Metal Casting Faculty of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, JAPAN

2018. 01 - 2022. 12

Correspondent

CRAFT + DESIGN, Korea Craft & Design Foundation, Seoul, KOREA

Education

2020

PhD in Fine Arts, Major in Metal Casting

Department of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, JAPAN

Doctoral Program Final Exhibition : “Variations on the Superposition of Coincidences”

2016

Research Student in Field of Specialization of Crafts, Metal Casting, Fine Arts Graduate Course, Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, JAPAN

2010

M.A. in Fine Arts, Major in Metalsmithing, Department of Craft and Design, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

2000

B.A. in Fine Arts , Major in Environmental Sculpture, Department of Environmental Sculpture, University of Seoul, Seoul, Korea

Thesis

2020 “Variations on the Superposition of Coincidences”, Faculty of Fine Arts,

Tokyo University of the Arts, PhD Thesis

2010 “The Essence and Distorted Reality”,

Seoul National University, Master’s Thesis

Awards

2017 Honorable Mention in 9th Sano Renaissance Metal Casting Competition, Japan

2009 Third-place winner in 1st Catholic Art Competition, Korea

2005 Honorable Mention in Kwan-Ak Modern Crafts competition, Korea

1999 Grand Prize at the Beach Presentation Exhibition, University of Seoul, Korea

Collection

Korean Martyrs’ Museum, Seoul Korea

LEO MEDICS, Seoul Korea

Mentions

500 Silver Jewelry Designs, Lark books

The Fab at Milano Jewelry Week 2022

Solo Exhibition

2023 Asking inquiries by explorers, Gallery Café 3, Tokyo, Japan

2021 Aporia, Gallery Café 3, Tokyo, Japan

Professional Group Exhibitions - selected in recent years

2023 Art in everyday life 2023 - Design & Craft, KEPCO Art Center, Seoul Korea

Geidai in Ginchakai 2023, Hand Shake Lounge ITOYA Ginza, Tokyo Japan

BAI : The 6th NEW CRAFTS International Emerging Artists Group Exhibition & Symposium, Jilin University of Arts Museum, Jilin, China

New Jewelry TOKYO 2023, Aoyama, Tokyo, Japan

2022 THE BRICKS NYC, The Blue Gallery, NEW YORK, USA

Arts Festival in Tenkyu, Tomi-si, Nagano, Japan

Geidai in Ginchakai, Hand Shake Lounge ITOYA Ginza, Tokyo, Japan

The Fab at Milano Jewelry Week 2022, Palazzo dei Giureconsulti, Milano, Italy

Cluster Jewellery Fair 2022, Koppel Project Space, Piccadilly Circus, London, UK

2020 Art on the Line, Seoul National University Online Alumni Exhibition

2019 Tokyo University of the Arts Doctoral Program Final Exhibition 2019

The University of Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan

2018 Imono Collection, TENNOZ ISLE | ART HALL, Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo University of the Arts Casting and Metalwork Art Exhibition

Daenoyadaka Osaki Citizen Gallery, Osaki, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan

Geidai in Ginchakai, Hand Shake Lounge ITOYA Ginza, Tokyo, Japan

Imonono Katachi 18th Korea-Japan Exchange Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan

Life is Art Exhibition, Umeno Memorial Museum, Higashigo City, Japan

2017 Geidai in Ginchakai, ITOYA Ginza, Tokyo, Japan

The 9th San Renaissance Metal Casting Exhibition, Sanoshi Cultural

Center, Sano, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

Contributions

CRAFT DESIGN Professional Periodicals

Special Article, PUBLIC DESIGN NEWSLETTER, vol.17, How Public Design Revitalizes an Area, Korea Craft & Design Foundation

CRAFT + DESIGN, Global News JAPAN, vol.030-047, Korea Craft & Design Foundation

CRAFT + DESIGN, Special Feature: A stage where you play with a design expert. Tokyo Midtown Design Hub Kids Week, vol.043, Korea Craft & Design Foundation 2020, p. 69.

CRAFT + DESIGN, Focus: Japan's Craft Online Platform to Promote Its Attractiveness, vol.037, Korea Craft & Design Foundation 2019, p. 96-101.

CRAFT + DESIGN, Exhibition Review: Crafts and Folk Art Encapsulating the Way of Life −<Another Kind of Art Exhibition>, vol.034, Korea Craft & Design Foundation 2018, p. 112-115.

CRAFT DESIGN Professional Periodicals, Special Article, CRAFT + DESIGN, Special Feature: Current City Festivals and Culture of Art − CRAFT + DESIGN Fair, vol.034, Korea Craft & Design Foundation 2018, p.54.

CRAFT + DESIGN, Focus: 400 Years of Present - Progressive Tradition, Southern Ironware Crafts, vol.032, Korea Craft & Design Foundation 2018, p. 68-83 (Contribution to p.70-71 Professor Akanuma Kiyoshi)

Japanese News Bi-Monthly Publications 2018-2021

THE GEOGRAPHY OF OBJETS : Healing and Life Energy by Casting Metal - Kiyoshi Akanuma, Cheongju Craft Biennale 2023, p.34-39

Professional Memberships

2010~  A Member of the Society of Seoul Metalsmiths 

2021~ An executive at The Metal Casting Artists and Craftsperson Association of Japan