Introduction

I am an artist–designer exploring the boundary where nature and human sensibility meet, through sculpture, installation, and paper-based forms.

My work develops around the concept of Sensory Ecology — an artistic ecosystem in which human perception and the rhythm of nature reflect and circulate within one another.

I mainly work with Hanji (Korean traditional paper made from mulberry fibres) and stone, exploring the coexistence of hardness and flexibility, intention and chance, the artificial and the natural. Hanji, made from the bark of mulberry branches that regenerate each year without cutting down the tree, is a cyclical material symbolising a sustainable relationship between nature and humanity.

I focus on the subtle rhythms of light, texture, and time, creating spaces that allow viewers to pause and sense the relationship between the natural and the human.
KOR

나는 조각과 설치, 그리고 종이 기반의 조형을 통해 자연과 인간의 감각이 만나는 경계를 탐구하는 아티스트-디자이너이다.

작업은 감각적 생태(Sensory Ecology)—인간의 감각과 자연의 리듬이 서로를 비추고 순환하는 예술적 생태계—를 중심으로 전개된다.

주로 한지(닥나무 섬유로 만든 한국의 전통 종이)와 석재를 다루며, 단단함과 유연함, 의도와 우연, 인공과 자연이 공존하는 관계를 탐구한다. 특히 한지는 나무를 베지 않고도 매년 재생되는 닥나무 껍질로 만들어지는 순환적 재료로, 자연과 인간의 지속 가능한 관계를 상징한다.

나는 빛과 질감, 시간의 미묘한 리듬에 집중한다. 관람자가 잠시 멈추어 서서 자연과 인간 사이의 관계를 느낄 수 있는 공간을 만들고자 한다.

Background

Exhibition/Fair
2025
In Transit - Group exhibition, Mongoat Gallery (Seoul)
K-Art-Seoul - Group exhibition, Paik Hae Young Gallery (Seoul)
Révélations International Biennial of Crafts and Creation, Grand Palais (Paris)
Christian Dior : Designer of Dreams, exhibition, DDP (Seoul)
A Microcosm of Light, Water, and Mountains : A Special Exhibition, Hwa-dam-sup (Gwangju, Gyeonggi)
'Snow & Sprout' Kim Hyun Joo's work with Bonsai , Atelier Aechae (Seoul)
2024
Kim Hyun Joo solo exhibition, Nonfiction (Seoul)
Kim Hyun Joo solo exhibition, Rho 02 (Seoul)
Encountering Spring Days : A Special Exhibition about Paper Through the Ages, National Folk Museum of Korea (Paju)
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