Helena Kim
Helena Kim (KIM Taehyun) is a contemporary artist exploring existential anxiety and
identity through the fragmentation of the body. Born and raised in Gangnam, Seoul, Helema
Kim experienced a shift from a privileged upbringing to financial hardship, a transition that
deeply influenced their perception of self and belonging. Growing up in a Christian
household, they grappled with the tension between faith, societal expectations, and
personal identity, leading them to question the nature of existence.
This internal conflict naturally led them to existentialist philosophy, particularly the works of
Martin Heidegger, Søren Kierkegaard, and Maurice Merleau-Ponty. These influences
shaped their artistic approach, where the body becomes a medium, rather than a subject,
to express the instability of existence.
Helema Kim’s work incorporates both controlled composition and spontaneous movement,
embracing the coexistence of precision and unpredictability. Using their own body as a
tool, they blur the boundaries between creator and creation, embodying existential
uncertainty rather than merely depicting it. Their process is deeply physical, leaving behind
traces that act as evidence of presence, absence, and impermanence.They hold a MFA from Hongik Name, where they developed an interest in the intersection
of philosophy and art.
Currently based in Seoul, Korea, they are working on a series that investigates the
fragmentation of self through layered textures and dynamic mark-making, further delving
into the dialogue between conscious control and spontaneous gesture.
My work is a process of proving existence through the body.
Instead of holding a brush, I move my body directly on the canvas, leaving traces behind.
This is not merely a method of expression but an act of incarnating existential anxiety.
Maurice Merleau-Ponty stated that "the body is not merely an object but a way of
experiencing the world." For me, the body is not just a tool—it is a medium that confirms
my existence in relation to the world. The moment I touch the canvas, my body becomes
part of the work, and the work becomes part of me. This process visually reveals that my
existence is not separate from the world but is constantly shaped by my interactions with it.
Martin Heidegger’s concept of “Being-in-the-World (In-der-Welt-sein)” aligns with my
approach. By using my body as a direct medium, the act of making marks itself becomes
proof of my existence. I erase the boundary between brush and body, balancing both
intention and spontaneity in the process. In this, I am not merely a creator but an active
explorer of existence.
My work also reflects the experience of living with anxiety. Søren Kierkegaard described
anxiety as an inevitable condition of being a free human. While my compositions and colors
are carefully planned, the traces left by my body emerge unpredictably. Rather than
avoiding uncertainty, I embrace it as a way of existing. Each spontaneous mark and
uncontrolled gesture reveals the fragility and imperfection of existence.
My approach is not just a stylistic choice. Using my body as a tool is an act of making myself
exist. Through this process, the coexistence of structured elements and accidental traces
allows me to encounter an unforeseen version of myself.
