Dong Kyu Kim, The Unanswered Questions #2, 2018 Paper receipts, threads, tickets, fabric, microfiber cloths
DONG KYU KIM
Dong Kyu Kim is from South Korea and is currently a fashion designer and maintains a fine arts practice. His sociopolitical work is composed of paper receipts, tickets, envelopes, documents, and plastic and paper shopping bags and stickers. The artist states, “My work is an examination of the roots of our desires, and how we determine value.” Kim sews the accumulated paper and other materials together by hand to create a patchwork. The repetitive and meditative act of stitching abandoned objects and leftover or discarded things is a record of the passing of time, highlighting the sanctity of labor. His work comments on what we value as a society—what we keep or leave behind—and the impact of American capitalism and consumerism.
My work is composed of paper receipts, tickets, envelopes, and documents, as well as plastic and paper shopping bags and stickers. Each item provides a record of my various activities at a particular place and time. The receipts and shopping bags that I collect represent capitalism, consumerism, and my aspiration for wealth, status, and success. As I experienced the radical reshaping of the global economy, along with increasing globalization, I became obsessed with the capitalistic ideals of money, fame and success. My work asks questions about the impact of American capitalism on one’s values. It is an examination of the roots of our desires, and how we determine value. I sew the papers and other materials together by hand in to create a patchwork. The repetitive and meditative act of stitching abandoned objects, leftover or discarded things(not special, unnoticed, undiscovered) helps me to record the passing of time and highlights the sanctity of labor.
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