Yula Kim
Artist based in London
ABOUT
Yula Kim (b. 1996, South Korea) is a London-based artist. She uses her unique cultural background to show the artistic connections between human cultures and nature, especially through birds and their histories. Having lived in Asia (South Korea, China), Polynesia (Hawaii), Africa (Uganda), and Europe (The United Kingdom), Yula draws on her rich and varied experiences in her artwork. These diverse environments have shaped her perspective and inform the themes she explores in her art. Yula's inter-continental life has stimulated her ability to see the inherent aesthetics of nature, enlightened her gaze and helped her consider the significance of nature in, and its connection to the aura of vitality within individual lives, and society, as a whole. She offers a diverse viewpoint in her artwork as she describes the vitalistic relationships between human desire and the natural environment. Yula holds a Master's Degree in Contemporary Art Practice from the Royal College of Art, where she graduated with distinction for her dissertation. She previously earned a BA in Fine Art from Goldsmiths, University of London. Yula continues her artistic practice while pursuing a research degree in MA Museums and Galleries in Education at University College London.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Yula is a contemporary painter whose work seamlessly bridges the natural world and urban spaces through her distinctive use of lines, abstract shapes from natural creatures, vivid colours, and dynamic spatial arrangements. Her art explores the concept of ‘Vitalism,’ focusing on the interconnected relationships between humans, space, and nature. Yula delves into how humans engage with the natural world, emphasising its allure and the insights it offers. Through these interactions, her work seeks to affirm the significance of life and explore the complex interplay between human emotions and the natural environment. In her artworks, Yula examines the role of nature in contemporary society, considering the integration between the certainty in intellectual, aesthetics and physical spaces to explore the presence of 'living' aura between humans and nature. Her work often features a synthesis of human and non-human elements, reflecting on the shared existence of different species. Inspired by birds from various geographies and cultural uses, Yula creates deep conceptual and emotional connections between fauna, flora, and the humans, crafting a new conceptual narrative that redefines traditional notions of vitalism. Yula's artworks have been presented in significant exhibitions, including the Platinum Jubilee Collection at Kensington Council and the Tate Modern in late March 2023. Her painting was selected to celebrate His Majesty's Coronation and was digitally presented at Windsor Castle during the Coronation Concert on May 7, 2023.
Website: https://www.yulastudio.com
Instagram: @yurajoanrobinakim