Hello, I am Hyun Kim, working mainly with leather, metal, and wood. I sculpt and create works that are practical in life.
Q. What are your motives for creating artwork?
The obsession I feel in life, the nightmares that come without fail when I fall asleep - I try to take in many unusual things in those moments and express them in reality with different materials.
Q. How did you choose to start working with leather and metal?
I like the heavy and cold feel of the metal and find more charms in their ability to carry minor details. The essence of metal is cold, but it has a subtle charm of changing the temperature to that of your body when you wear them. It can be seen as having the potential to be warm because it is cold already. As for leathers, I use both cold and warm ones a lot because of their strength in carrying small and big details. When I create things that come to my mind with two hands, I sometimes discover a new style quite unexpectedly.
Q. The message 'DARKNESS MOST BEAUTIFUL' is often found in your work - could you tell us more about it? What does it mean to you and your work?
It means the darkness shows its beauty when it shines a light on other beautiful matters, like a strain of light shining brighter with more charm in the darkest. It can be portrayed in black, the color you get when you mix all colors, embracing all. Moreover, when you work with leather, colored or patent leather can be pretty at first, but it can become cloyed after some time. But if you add layers of details on black, you never get tired of it. It takes much more effort to make it, but with much excitement for a challenge. Those are the meanings of the message.
Q. How did 'nox 🌑 atra' come to life?
The sky was exceptionally dark on the night I was born as the youngest child of my family. My father named me Hyun, meaning dark, after seeing the beauty of the night that makes the shining stars feel like specks in the sky. As the name connotes, I have always been working on expressing the beauty of darkness, and this work is an extension of that. I felt a bit of power and comfort to see these many feet share the burden of various things in life.
Q. There are many unique details of 'nox 🌑 atra' - could you highlight a few?
I wanted to tell the story of sacrifice, anguish, and rest with studs, knots, and layers of black.
Sole: Jesus' crown of thorns / Left: Stigma in nails / Twisted patterns in front: Sacrifice / Cross: Symbol of sacrifice
Q. What kind of message did you aim to convey through this work? Who would resonate with these shoes?
I am grateful for those who carry the burden of pain and complex mind like the knot that cannot be untied. I made these thinking about those who endure the weight of creativity and the need for expression until the day they shine.
Q. Compared to your previous collaborations, what was special about working with SEVEN EIGHT UNDER?
It was captivating to feel like walking on a snow field that no one had walked on, the strong appeal of something new, and the generosity and composure to fulfill rather than a challenge. And the unique outsole was tempting to fill in.
Q. What are your plans for the future?
Keep creating my work. Rather than having ambitious goals like launching a brand, I want to keep making something that can wow people.
Q. Lastly, is there any place you would like to go with SEVEN EIGHT UNDER?
A large field I can fly a kite with my child and the studio where I cannot. My priority has become kids, both in life and at work. Anywhere I can go with my children would be wonderful.
Q. What would be your advice to emerging artists?
I feel too humble to advise them, but if I have to, it would be "keep pursuing your values without judging them high or low." One fine artwork may awe people, but the diligence of creating a breadth of work does, too. Those who put that much thought into their work would inevitably get excellent outcomes. Also, if you struggle to find your color, it might help you to feel extreme emotions. Wouldn't it be good to observe your feelings escalating and capture them in your work? Focusing on your own emotions, not others.
Hyun Kim
nox 🌑 atra
Q. Please introduce yourself.
Hello, I am Hyun Kim, working mainly with leather, metal, and wood. I sculpt and create works that are practical in life.
Q. What are your motives for creating artwork?
The obsession I feel in life, the nightmares that come without fail when I fall asleep - I try to take in many unusual things in those moments and express them in reality with different materials.
Q. How did you choose to start working with leather and metal?
I like the heavy and cold feel of the metal and find more charms in their ability to carry minor details. The essence of metal is cold, but it has a subtle charm of changing the temperature to that of your body when you wear them. It can be seen as having the potential to be warm because it is cold already. As for leathers, I use both cold and warm ones a lot because of their strength in carrying small and big details. When I create things that come to my mind with two hands, I sometimes discover a new style quite unexpectedly.
Q. The message 'DARKNESS MOST BEAUTIFUL' is often found in your work - could you tell us more about it? What does it mean to you and your work?
It means the darkness shows its beauty when it shines a light on other beautiful matters, like a strain of light shining brighter with more charm in the darkest. It can be portrayed in black, the color you get when you mix all colors, embracing all. Moreover, when you work with leather, colored or patent leather can be pretty at first, but it can become cloyed after some time. But if you add layers of details on black, you never get tired of it. It takes much more effort to make it, but with much excitement for a challenge. Those are the meanings of the message.
Q. How did 'nox 🌑 atra' come to life?
The sky was exceptionally dark on the night I was born as the youngest child of my family. My father named me Hyun, meaning dark, after seeing the beauty of the night that makes the shining stars feel like specks in the sky. As the name connotes, I have always been working on expressing the beauty of darkness, and this work is an extension of that. I felt a bit of power and comfort to see these many feet share the burden of various things in life.
Q. There are many unique details of 'nox 🌑 atra' - could you highlight a few?
I wanted to tell the story of sacrifice, anguish, and rest with studs, knots, and layers of black. Sole: Jesus' crown of thorns / Left: Stigma in nails / Twisted patterns in front: Sacrifice / Cross: Symbol of sacrifice
Q. What kind of message did you aim to convey through this work? Who would resonate with these shoes?
I am grateful for those who carry the burden of pain and complex mind like the knot that cannot be untied. I made these thinking about those who endure the weight of creativity and the need for expression until the day they shine.
Q. Compared to your previous collaborations, what was special about working with SEVEN EIGHT UNDER?
It was captivating to feel like walking on a snow field that no one had walked on, the strong appeal of something new, and the generosity and composure to fulfill rather than a challenge. And the unique outsole was tempting to fill in.
Q. What are your plans for the future?
Keep creating my work. Rather than having ambitious goals like launching a brand, I want to keep making something that can wow people.
Q. Lastly, is there any place you would like to go with SEVEN EIGHT UNDER?
A large field I can fly a kite with my child and the studio where I cannot. My priority has become kids, both in life and at work. Anywhere I can go with my children would be wonderful.
Q. What would be your advice to emerging artists?
I feel too humble to advise them, but if I have to, it would be "keep pursuing your values without judging them high or low." One fine artwork may awe people, but the diligence of creating a breadth of work does, too. Those who put that much thought into their work would inevitably get excellent outcomes. Also, if you struggle to find your color, it might help you to feel extreme emotions. Wouldn't it be good to observe your feelings escalating and capture them in your work? Focusing on your own emotions, not others.
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