Seeun Kim is a South Korean jeweller and metal craftswoman who trained in Japanese traditional handicraft skills and precious metals as an advanced specialist in Japan. Seeun now lives in London where she is continuing her training and career as a jeweller.
We are delighted to be showcasing two of Seeun’s most recent projects which touch upon the importance of social inclusivity through visual language and how we must treat one another as equally important individuals, especially through times of struggle.
“Today, our society is composed of various types of people. Because of this, I think that the responsibility of the individual extends beyond themselves and encompasses their role in the community. The problems that individuals face, and the problems faced by society will differ depending on what society they are in and what institutions they have. Perhaps today we already think of the world in terms of it being an international family or a global society. Thus, I undertook this project with the hope of living in a society where everyone can live with a smile”.
Braille Object Project
Today, we use diverse languages to communicate with each other in a modern society. There are various ways of communicating for modern people in the world. Firstly, the use of native language, international language or foreign language can be a tool for modern people to communicate with others.
However, speaking and listening are not the only the ways of communicating with others. The use of braille as a form of semiotics can be another way of communicating as well. We do not recognise the importance of intangible factors in a modern society. It might be the most important agenda for us to find really worthwhile things in our lives.
Have you considered the disadvantaged citizens in our society? Have you ever tried to communicate with them?
Sign Language Object Project
Modern people communicate in various ways through diverse social network services, and because of the current pandemic, the use of these forms of communication has increased during lockdown.
However, I think that people’s face-to-face communication has been cut off for a long time. Communication online has been lacking in sincerity and most of the information has been focused on people’s fun.
Could it be that we are isolated from society and true communication is lost?
At this moment, lockdown has given us time for self-reflection. I think there are only three conditions we need to live wisely in a modern society: firstly, respect for others, and secondly, responsibility to the group we belong to. Lastly, I think that cooperation between people is a necessity, as is cooperation between countries.
We must constantly question ourselves, reflect and answer. At this moment, I ask those of you who appreciate this work: are you living a life of respect and consideration for the people around you in our society? Are you cooperating with your family, friends and colleagues around you in this lockdown situation? Finally, who are you in our society? Also, in what sort of society would you like to live your life in the future?
Why is it important to showcase these projects within a Health Care setting?
“I think the NHS is the heart of the United Kingdom and NHS workers have undertaken a massively important agenda for so many patients this year. Thus, I firmly would like to showcase this project with the Arts for Health and Wellbeing Team at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board for their patients and staff to see, but also to use this as a platform to reach out to members of our local communities.
I hope, that through this work, people will recognise and learn more about what they can do to help those around them during this crisis of Covid-19 or some people can simply enjoy reading about the work.
I think as artists, it is up to us to create a visual language so that we all understand and follow the correct rules. I think that these works are more than art, they are a way of communicating, informing the viewer of how we can pull together as a society. I hope the projects will leave a lasting impression on people’s minds”.
Seeun’s work will be on display within our corridor space at University Hospital Llandough next year.
@jewellery_studio_seeun http://www.jewellerystudio-seeun.com