<Biography>

Seeun Kim is an Oxford-based South Korean metal craftswoman, visual artist and educator. From her perspective, she believes that the human hand is a gift from human evolution. Even though several technologies have been developed today, handicraft artworks have a high scarcity and sophisticated beauty compared to mass–produced manmade products. Furthermore, there is an inexpressible complexity in the handicraft world that a machine cannot imitate. Seeun loves making things and believes in their value. Her main skill is delicate metal techniques and since 2012, she has created more than 1000 metal works to refine her sophisticated handicraft skills. She thinks that lots of practices, endeavours and failures are the best teachers and her worthwhile experiences are the valuable books in her life. Moreover, as Kim is an innovative material researcher, she has been focusing on developing a variety of materials that can be combined with her delicate metal skills. Also, she seeks to keep the balance between the tradition and the modern in her work. As a result, Seeun has completed various art history jewellery projects that integrate her metalcrafts with fascinating art history from beyond Western and Eastern cultures.

 

In addition, Kim has been deeply interested in various fields including art, culture, humanity, society, history, science and environment in a global society. As she is a member of modern society and an advocate of pluralism, she thinks it is important to keep the balance between two elements: cultivating a critical mindset and maintaining an esteem mindset on various issues in our society. Also, today we live in a global society. Because our society consists of various types of people, she thinks that the responsibility of the individual extends beyond themselves and encompasses their role in society. The problems faced by individuals, society and the state 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 global neighbours. Seeun thinks that the reason for the existence of our society is to make us more advanced and happy. Thus, she has completed diverse social art projects that combine jewellery with various global social issues. Her social art projects mainly include jewellery and metal objects based on humanities and social sciences. Also with photography and film, Seeun conveys her thinking in the most inclusive ways possible – using text, British sign language and English braille. She hopes that her work will provide the people who appreciate it with an opportunity for self–reflection and awareness. Furthermore, she uses her work to communicate her many ideas; working with courage and dreaming of a society where everyone can live with a smile. She has been communicating with various public around the world through her social art projects.

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<Achievements>

Seeun Kim faithfully trained in Japanese traditional handicraft skills and precious metals as an advanced specialist with full-time attendance for 4 years at Hiko Mizuno College of Jewellery in Tokyo, which is the first technical college in Japan approved as an educational corporation in the field of jewellery. She was awarded the 4–year perfect attendance award at her graduation ceremony at Hiko Mizuno College of Jewellery in Japan. Furthermore, as an alumna of the Royal College of Art, she excellently learnt British jewellery and metalcrafts during her attending college for 2 years in London. After successfully learning jewellery and metalcrafts in both Tokyo and London, Seeun admirably completed professional practices in the field of arts education focusing on educational research and academic study with visual arts at Oxford Brookes University and she was awarded a merit from Oxford Brookes University. Moreover, Kim was awarded a certificate at prestigious institution. During her time learning about international ethics and global justice at the University of Oxford, UK she broadened her horizons internationally and developed her empirical knowledge of various global issues in greater depth.

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In addition, a number of Seeun Kim’s extraordinary craftworks have been patented worldwide. Also, more than 100 of her major works have been selected and permanently acquired by globally respected institutions including the National Museum of Scotland, Oriental Museum – Durham University; the UK, International Art Museum of America, Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art – Cornell University; the USA, Iksan Jewellery Museum, Byeokbong Korea Jewellery Museum, World Jewellery Museum Seoul, Korea National University Museum of Cultural Heritage – Korea Heritage Service; the Republic of Korea. Moreover, her various social art projects have been collaborated on and exhibited by renowned public institutions including the NHS (The UK National Health Service) Foundation Trust, Westminster Reference Library, MyVision Oxfordshire – Supporting Visually Impaired People, Oxford Human Rights Festival, Oxford International Women’s Festival, Oxfordshire Artweeks, The North Wall Arts Centre Oxford, Fusion Arts Oxford, Modern Art Oxford, The Oxfordshire Museum and Pitt Rivers Museum Oxford – University of Oxford. In addition, Seeun Kim’s art history project has been posted to the archives of the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation in Germany, which means she is the first Korean to be listed on the Korean section of the Digital Atlas of Design and Art Education beyond the Bauhaus. Bauhaus and its sites in Weimar and Dessau, Germany have been included in the UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) World Heritage List.

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After building up a wealth of professional art careers internationally, she has been focusing on the art and technology education fields to nurture talented students in our global society. As an educator, she focuses on three factors in her work. Firstly, to esteem each student’s diversity and their various perspectives. Secondly, to have a strong sense of responsibility to her students so that there is not a person who is left out in her teaching. Lastly, to offer an equal opportunity to all students in her teaching. She thinks these three points are fundamental duties and important virtues for an educator. Kim has been teaching and guest lecturing at various acclaimed institutions internationally including the Oxfordshire College of Jewellery, the Oxfordshire Museum, Durham University, UK and Cornell University, USA. Also, Seeun Kim is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (Seeun Kim FRSA).