Sally kim b.1999

Paint as a Vehicle for Joy —Interview with Sally Kim

June 2, 2023

Sally (Min Jae) Kim is an emerging South Korean artist with an aptitude for oil paint and Minhwa, or traditional Korean folk art. She is also moving toward a career in art education, aiming to explore the illustrative possibilities of Minhwa and teach its techniques through a modern lens.

Sally’s debut exhibition “Confetti” (May 13 - July 1, 2023) features many of her lively oil paintings and contemporary renditions of Minhwa. This interview captures Sally’s personal narrative as a Minhwa artist in the 21st century and how it influences her artistic practices and aspirations. Sally also talks about her educational background and career goals for the future as a young independent artist.

Q: How did you explore the illustration possibilities of Minhwa in your work? How does your modern painting style translate into representing Minhwa? How might it be different from traditional Minhwa? What are the benefits of creating Minhwa in a more contemporary style?

My contemporary Minhwa style differs from traditional Minhwa in the way I use color. Traditional Minhwa paintings have desaturated colors and rough forms compared to the forms I try to discover in my paintings. I pursue a contemporary Minhwa style because I want viewers to better interpret my Minhwa paintings, as they are more used to the brighter colors we usually see in our contemporary world. 

Q: There is a contrast between your Minhwa and abstract oil paintings. Is there an intersection of ideas between both styles?

The commonalities between both painting styles are their major themes and applications of color. When I make my oil paintings, I focus on mundane objects, adding value and meaning through various colors. Similarly, Minhwa paintings are about everyday objects, still life, and everyday scenes. The color choices I make in both styles are vibrant, energetic, and lively. The reason I incorporate very contrasting, saturated colors, as well as desaturated colors, is to create more depth and dynamism in my paintings.

Q: In your oil paintings, you concentrate on elevating seemingly mundane objects through vivid colors and simplified shapes. Why are you drawn to this subject matter and style of painting?

When I was young, I always believed that painting fancy objects and scenes would make my paintings stand out. However, I realized that I related more to everyday and mundane objects. I discovered that painting them with vibrant colors added more value and meaning, which is how I came to love painting the objects we bypass every day.

Q: What challenges are you facing as a modern artist who also has a passion for a traditional Korean painting style? How are you overcoming these barriers?

Minhwa is very different from oil paint. The way I treat the material is definitely one of the starkest differences. I try to blur the bridge between these two styles by being very considerate of my color choices. I try to incorporate very welcoming, vivid colors in both painting styles to keep them consistent and evoke a sense of joyfulness.

Q: After graduating from Pratt Institute with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, how did your experience at Pratt shape you as an artist today?

When I went to Pratt, I took various classes in sculpture, digital art, traditional painting, art history, and art education. In my art education classes, I learned how to approach the ideas of adolescent development and K-12 classroom learning. I believe all of my studio experiences, in combination with my Pratt education, nurtured my ability to think from the perspective of an art educator.

Q: What are your career plans or aspirations after this exhibition? Where do you see yourself 5 years from now as a professional artist?

I see myself opening more exhibitions internationally in areas I haven’t been, not just in the United States. I want to represent the ideas I have behind my paintings and share what Minhwa is with an audience worldwide. Also, as an art educator, I want to promote the importance of art education to future generations.

Q: As an aspiring art educator, how will your workshops differ from other art learning opportunities?

My workshops are different in terms of providing students with the chance to learn Minhwa, a rare opportunity in the United States that has been forgotten in the contemporary world. When students take my Minhwa workshops, they will learn about Korean culture and the evolution of the Minhwa tradition over time. Students will also grasp new techniques through a form of painting that is not taught in most institutions and schools.