Introduction

Leader of KHJ Studio, KIM HyunJoo is an artist and a designer focused on sculpture, installation, and craft-related lifestyle items. 

Over the years I have been constantly interested in the potential of raw, natural mediums and the organic beauty they generate. Largely because of this my work contains the texture and form of nature. I work principally with two materials: stone, which contains the integrity and pattern of geological time, and Hanji (Korean traditional paper), which is made of densely stacked mulberry fibers.

I enjoy the contrariness of nature: the use of two  mediums which are essentially opposed in their make-up - hard stone that needs to be cut to form a shape, and a flexible paper that can be stacked or layered to form a three-dimensional structure – come from, I believe, my own tendency to juxtapose different physical qualities. 

I enjoy the simultaneity of opposites: contemporary and traditional mediums; two and three-dimensions; objects for private and public spheres; handmade and digital design; rural and city life; organic and geometric form. However, my aesthetic approach and production methods are reconciled through one concept: nature.  
KOR

‘김현주’는 아티스트-디자이너 로써 조각, 설치, 그리고 공예 기반의 라이프스타일 제품을 만들고 있다. 

수년 동안 가공되지 않은 자연 소재의 잠재력과 이를 통해 만들어 낼 수 있는 유기적 아름다움에 지속적으로 주목해 왔다. 이로 인해 그녀의 작품은 자연의 질감과 형태를 담고 있다. 자연의 온전함과 무늬를 담고 있는 돌과 닥나무 섬유 (한지)라는 두 매체를 중점적으로 작업을 하고 있다.

자연의 대립되는 특성에 대한 흥미를 가지고 있다. 돌은 깎아내어 형상을 만들어야 하지만, 종이는 쌓여 입체적인 형태를 형성한다. 대립되는 두 소재에 대한 관심은 서로 다른 특성을 결합하려는 그녀의 작품 접근 방식에서 비롯되었으며, 작품을 통해 상반되는 개념의 동시성을 표현하고 있다. 2차원적인 듯한 3차원 작품, 개인적이면서도 공공적인 영역에 속할 수 있는 오브제, 전통 소재에 현대적인 접근, 디지털 디자인과 수공예 제작, 농촌과 도시의 삶, 유기적이며 기하하적인 형태 등.

그러나 상반된 요소에 대한 미적 접근 방식과 제작 방식은 자연이라는 하나의 개념을 통해 조화를 이룬다.

Background

Exhibition/Fair
2024
From the earth, Trio group exhibition, Gallery Kki (Seoul)
Maison & Objet (Paris)
2023
Kim Hyun Joo solo exhibition, Seoul Hanok (Seoul)
Kim Hyun Joo solo exhibition, Gallery SOAN (Jeonju)
That’s Korea: Hanji, exhibition, Marciana National Library (Venice)
New Year x New Objects, exhibition, Hanji center (Seoul)
Silence and Inspiration, exhibition, Nonfiction (Seoul)
Métiers d'art, Maison et Objet, Craft hall (Paris)
2022
Repair : Re+pair, exhibition, Amore Sungsu (Seoul)
Flower Power, exhibition, CAVA life (Seoul)
The Preview Art fair (Seoul)
NY NOW (New York)
Maison & Objet (Paris)
2021
NY NOW (New York)
“Neomateria”, new materials for the crafts, exhibition (Lleida)
Pop-up exhibition @ Eternal Journey (Busan)
Trio exhibition, Giagaga gallery (Seoul)
2020
Craft Trend Fair (Seoul)
Craft Kiosk, exhibition (Seoul)
Neo material: New materials for design and crafts, exhibition (Chang-Won)
NY NOW (New York)
Paper World Fair (Frankfurt)
2019
Craft Trend Fair (Seoul)
Maison & Objet (Paris)
NY NOW (New York)
Material Modernity : Incredible bamboo, paper & wood, exhibition ( Hong Kong)
Paper World Fair (Frankfurt)
2018
London Design Fair (London)
Tokyo Gift Show (Tokyo)
NY NOW (New York)
Spring Fair (Birmingham,UK)
Paper World Fair (Frankfurt)
2017
Craft Trend Fair (Seoul)
Maison & Objet (Paris)
NY NOW (New York)
Paper World Fair (Frankfurt)
2016
Craft Trend Fair (Seoul)
Maison & Objet (Paris)
Korea Craft & Design Products Now, exhibition (Berlin)
Paper World Fair (Frankfurt)
2015
New Korean Design, exhibition (Berlin)
On The Table, exhibition (Seoul)
Ambiente Fair (Frankfurt)
Paper World Fair (Frankfurt)
2014
London Design Fair (London)
Meet My Project, exhibition (Milano)
On-Gi, exhibition (Seoul)
2013
Home & Table Deco Fair (Seoul)
Maison & Objet (Paris)
House for Pet, exhibition (Seoul)
Soom, exhibition (Seoul)
2010
Seoul Design Festival (Seoul)
Food Design Guzzini, exhibition (Seoul)
2009
Korea Design Week, exhibition (Seoul)
Saving by design Plus, exhibition (Seoul)
Design Cube, exhibition (Seoul)
2008
Design MADE 2008, Saving by design, exhibition (Seoul)
Lecture/Seminar
2020
The Materials Farm 2020: Neomateria Inspirational Talks in Barcelona Design Week
2019
Sharing session speech, Material Modernity exhibition in Hong Kong
2018
Hanji Design workshop in ISIA ROMA DESIGN in Rome
2017
Hanji international seminar in Frankfurt, speech about ‘Making Hanji Modern: Production in an international context’
Craft Heerak exhibition seminar, speech about ‘The era of designer makers: combining craft materials and design’
Award
2023
2023 K-ribbon selection, Korea premium handicraft award
2020
2020 K-Ribbon selection, The Excellent Cultural Products in Korea
2017
Lexus Creative Masters award
2015
Frankfurt Ambiente Talents - selected
2011
Seoul Good Public design - selected
2010
Seoul Good Public design - selected
2008
Reddot Design Award - winner