Interview: Moon Jeong Kim
Luca Curci talks with Moon Jeong Kim during ALCHEMIC BODY 2021, at THE LINE Contemporary Art Space.

“People have been programmed to hide their authentic response when dark emotions like sadness take place within, and as a result to feign more positive reactions like happiness easy and comfortable to open and express before other humans. This is how they have come to form their social ego. Under the thin veneer of social mask and mendacity, occasional and unexpected bursts of tear would be what their authentic aspect of ego is going to get to in a man emotional way. Also, they would be a symbolical way of expressing helplessness to a social situation not allowing them to reveal their true emotions, and at the same time helping their hidden loneliness to trickle down the seemingly specious and suffocating veneer of social hypocrisy”.

LUCA CURCI – What’s your background?
MOON JEONG KIM – Pusan ​​National University, College of Art, Department of Sculpture, Metal Sculpture. Graduated from Pusan ​​National University, Department of Art and Design, Department of Metal. Graduated from Pusan ​​National University, Department of Art and Design, Department of Textile and Metal. Solo Exhibition: 2020 – Prejudice. Team Exhibition: 2021 FRANCE PARIS CARROUSEL DU LOUVRE and 2020 L’ AMOUR PARIS – Galerie Phd.

LC – What are your thoughts while you paint? Do you have any habits or rituals while you work?
MJK – Nothing special. I just drink about a cup of coffee a day to prevent drowsiness during work.

LC – How is being an artist nowadays?
MJK – It was not easy to work as a craftsman rather than a painter. Although interest and influence in art is growing due to the influence of the Korean Wave, almost only painting works occupy a majority of the market, even in the same art, there are classes, and prejudice and discrimination still exist. My work is to express the inner sadness hidden in the dazzling splendor of Hallyu in Korea.

LC – Do visitors’ suggestions enrich yourself and your art?
MJK – In Korea, there is a tendency to prefer works with bright themes, such as happiness and healing, to works with deep themes. In terms of embracing the diversity that art should have, your proposal can be said to enrich art.

LC – Did your style change over the years? In which way?
MJK – The early works were rough because they were at the beginning of the artist’s life, but there were more and more angular and simple works.

LC – We were attracted by your last artistic production, has the artwork presented been created for the exhibition or as a part of preexisting works?
MJK – This work was made for a solo exhibition.

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists? Did you enjoy cooperating with us?
MJK – Of course, it was fun. It was a different experience. I think it can be a sufficient opportunity, and I think this collaboration will help me to work as an artist in the future.

LC – Would you suggest a collaboration with us? What do you think about our services?
MJK – I want to continue the collaboration as it is now. I find it attractive in that I can communicate with people from all over the world.