Stories are the currency of power. I have collaborated with shamans, architects, engineers, bank robbers, doctors, musicians, politicians, dancers, miners, actors, fishermen, stem cell researchers, developers and others to build metaphorical worlds which critique our own. I create operatic experiences which combine the traditional and digital; bronze-casting, textiles, metalwork, film and theatre, alongside CAD, CNC, 3D modelling and VR.
I studied Anthropology and Art History at the Sainsbury’s Centre of Visual Arts, before training as an artist in America and then at Central St Martins College of Art and Design in London. Following this I read Design & Technology Education at the University of Cambridge. My work engages with the things I care about. My solo exhibition at Somerset House (London) dealt with the alienation and despair of young unemployment and led to the banning of unpaid internships there, and was subsequently archived in the National Portrait Gallery. My collaborative Art + Science projects with institutions such as the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (S. Korea), Cornish Lithium (UK) and Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (US) have resulted in an array of 3D computer games, audio works and public sculptures which tackle a host of future forecasting issues such as mental health epidemics, cloning and the climate crisis. My architectural steel birds in IAP (Incheon, Korea) and ZK/U (Berlin, Germany) and The Factory (New Hampshire, U.S.) are permanent public sculptures commenting on the politics of borders. My installation work streamed into Tate Modern (London, UK) and exhibited in Seoul Museum of Art (Seoul, Korea) analysed the interaction between shamanism and christianity in South Korea.
Formerly a lecturer in Environmental Design at the Institute for Creative Innovation / University for the Creative Arts (UK) and Xiamen University (China) and a lecturer in Art History at Digital Chosun Ilbo Global Education (S. Korea).
I am now a Doctoral Candidate at Harvard University (U.S.).
SOLO EXHIBITIONS (selected)
2022 - POWER, Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA), South Korea.
2022 - Alexander in Mimesis, The Factory on Willow, Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S.
2021 - Power from the Blazing Stone, Cornish Lithium / Deep Earth Synergies, Cornwall, U.K.
2018 - The Green Man of Spreepark (Collaboration with Ella Ziegler), Public Intervention at Spreepark Nature Reserve, Berlin, Germany. Funded by Arts Council Germany (Senatsverwaltung fur Kultur und Europa).
2017- The Birds Who Stayed & The Birds who Left, Zentrum für Kunst und Urbanistik, Berlin, Germany.
2016 - Walking on the Sea, (Collaboration with Goldhawk Music), Siheung Cultural Foundation, Korea.
2016 - TIME SPACE GHOST MONEY, Gallery G2, Incheon Art Platform, South Korea.
2015- The Butterflies of Andukbul: Archiving the Cigarette Factory Workers. In conjunction with Cheong-ju Biennale, Cheong-ju Cultural Industry Promotion Foundation, Cheong-ju, South Korea.
2015- Mu-Dang: The Korean Shaman in the Year 2100 AD (Old House Project exhibition), CAN Foundation, Seoul, Korea.
2014 - OH MY GOD : What you Believe in 2100 AD, Solo at Seoul Culture Station 284, South Korea (Also a solo show at Youngeun Museum May 2014 and a London fashion show at Dalston Department Store July 2014).
2014 - A DANGEROUS FIGURE : Stage II, Solo show between London, Manchester and Bristol, in Partnership with Don’t Panic Magazine, O2 : Telefonica funded.
2014 - A Hidden Face: Immigrant Ambassadors of South Korea, solo show, funded by Kyunggi Arts Council. Ansan, South Korea.
2013 - A DANGEROUS FIGURE : Stage I, solo show at Somerset House London, The Bite Back Movement, O2 funded.
2012 - Democratic Pressure, The Bite Back Movement, Platoon Kunsthalle, Seoul.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS (Selected)
2024 - Human Augmentation Summit, MIT Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
2022 - Nanji Access, Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA), South Korea.
2021 - Pandemic Art 1.0, Articulate Gallery, Denmark.
2020 - Art, Technology & the Body , Route 17 Media Arts Centre, South Korea.
2019 - Shades of Summer, Beaux Arts, London, UK.
2019 - Sculpture: Modern and Contemporary, Beaux Arts, London.
2017/18 - The Poetry of the Real, Beaux Arts, London.
2017 - SEMA Guild, SEMA Storage Gallery, Seoul, Korea.
2017 - ODYSSEE (Collaboration with Ella Ziegler), Public Intervention at Möhnesee (North Rhine Westphalia), Kunstverein Arnsberg e.V.
2017 - Rumours in the City, Seoul City Council, Seoul, South Korea.
2017- The Artience Project, Daejeon Art and Culture Foundation, The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS), South Korea.
2017 - Open Haus, ZK/U Zentrum für Kunst und Urbanistik, Berlin, Germany.
2016 - An Extraordinary Discovery, Jeonju Cultural Council, South Korea.
2016 – The Internet Yami-Ichi (Black Market / Offprint London), Tate Modern, London, UK 2016 – International Artists Exhibition, Seoul Art Space Geumcheon, Seoul, South Korea.
2015 - Plastic Myth: Asia Culture Centre opening exhibition, Gwangju, South Korea.
2015 – Young Artist Project Exhibition (YAP), Daegu Art Fair, The Twinkle World.
2014 - Transmute : Digital Experiments for Sensory Beings, Phoenix Art Gallery, Brighton, UK.
2013 – Talking Crest Festival, European Union, Camden and Islington Councils, Eurostar, Argent, and Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. Also an installation for TRACTION: Eurostar Music Festival in the same year.
2013 - EUPA Jesolo, collaboration between the European Union, The City of Jesolo, and Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design.
2012 - EUPA Maribor, collaboration between the European Union, The City of Maribor (2012 European City of Culture), and Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design.
ART FAIRS / BIENNALES
2020 - Barcú Biennale, Colombia.
2020 - London Art Fair, UK.
2019 - London Art Fair, UK.
2018 - London Art Fair, UK.
2017 - Berlin Art Fair, Germany.
2016 - La Nuit De L’Instant, Les Ateliers de l'Image, Centre Photographique de Marseille, France.
2015 - Daegu Art Fair, South Korea.
2015 - Cheongju Biennale, South Korea.
RESIDENCIES
2022 - SeMA Seoul National Museum of Art, Nanji Residency, Seoul, Korea.
2022 - The Factory on Willow, Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S.
2021 - Artist in Mining, residency at Cornish Lithium mines, Deep Earth Synergies, U.K.
2017 - Stiftung Künstlerdorf Schöppingen, Germany.
2017 - Artience Korean Research Institute of Science and Standards (KRISS), Daejeon, Korea.
2017 - ZK/U BERLIN—Center for art and Urbanistics, Germany.
2016 – Stiftung Künstlerdorf Schöppingen, Germany.
2016 – Incheon Art Platform, South Korea.
2016 – Seoul Art Space Geumcheon, South Korea.
2015 – TEMI Artist Residency, Daejeon, South Korea.
2014 - Youngeun Museum, Kyunggi-do, South Korea.
2012 - Caledonian Road Festival Artist in Residence, London, U.K.
AWARDS & GRANTS
2024 - Harvard Dean’s Merit Award | GSD Doctorate of Design Grant | GSD Merit Grant.
2022-23 - Charles Fox Prize, awarded by the University of Cambridge.
2022 - Winner, Best Podcast of 2022, Dark Comedy Film Festival, California, Los Angeles, US. (Gold).
2021 - Award finalist in the Cinemonic Podcast Festival, for ANGER, U.S.
2020 - ARKO Korean foundation, Exhibition grant, South Korea.
2020 - Freelands Foundation, UK.
2018 - Funded by Arts Council Germany (Senatsverwaltung fur Kultur und Europa).
2017 - Foundation Künstlerdorf Schöppingen, Germany.
2017 - ARKO Korean foundation, International artist grant, South Korea.
2017 - Funded by Arts Council Germany (Senatsverwaltung fur Kultur und Europa).
2016 - Art Council England Funded, England.
2016 - Foundation Künstlerdorf Schöppingen, Germany.
2016 - ARKO Korean foundation, International artist grant, South Korea.
2015 – CAN Foundation, Old House Reborn Project, Seoul, South Korea.
2015 – Cheong-ju Cultural Industry Promotion Foundation, South Korea.
2014 - Kyunggi Arts Council Grant, Ansan, South Korea.
2014 - Daejeon Art and Culture Foundation Grant, Daejeon, South Korea.
2014 - O2: Telefonica Think Big Grant, UK.
2013 - O2: Telefonica Think Big Grant, UK.
2013 - Art Council England Funded, England.
2012 - Secret Garden Party Funding.
Education
2024 - Current
Harvard University - Boston, U.S.
Doctorate of Design (Pending)
2023 - 2024
University of Cambridge - Darwin College, Cambridge, UK
Masters of Education
2022 - 2023
University of Cambridge - Darwin College, Cambridge, UK
Postgraduate Certificate of Education, Design & Technology (Completed, winning the Charles Fox Prize)
2011 - 2013
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design - London, UK
MA Narrative Environments (Distinction)
2009
Corcoran College of Art - Washington D.C., US
9 Postgraduate Credits (one semester) in Fine Art (AAB)
2006 - 2009
University of East Anglia - Norwich, UK
Joint Honors Degree in Art History, Anthropology and Archaeology (Upper 2.1 / thesis with Distinction)
EDUCATION PROGRAMS | LECTUREs | Conferences | SumMits
Workshops
2024 - A Monumental Weekend - Co-design monument workshop with The Ledward Centre, University of Cambridge and Barclays Eagle Labs.
2016 – Incheon Art Platform Camp – 5 week practical workshop and lecture series resulting in a permanent installation with high school students. Incheon Art Platform. South Korea
2014 - Artience Camp - 5 week International workshop, lecture series, exhibition between Artience Foundation, The Bite Back Movement, The Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. Creative Director, tutor, participating artist, graphic designer and lecturer. Daejeon, South Korea / London, UK.
2014 – Youngeun Museum education workshop. Practical art workshops with high school students. Gyunggido, South Korea.
2013 – Talking Crest Festival. 3 months of workshops and installations culminating in a festival in King’s Cross, London. European Union, Camden and Islington Councils, Eurostar, Argent, and Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. Also an installation for TRACTION: Eurostar Music Festival in the same year.
Conferences, Summits & Published Papers
2024 - Presenting artist at the Human Augmentation Summit 2024, MIT Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
2024 - Kaleidoscope 2024, “Multiverses of Learning - Fresh Perspectives in our Ever-Changing World”, The University of Cambridge.
2023 - PATT40: The 40th International Pupils’ Attitudes Towards Technology Research Conference. “If D&T wasn’t so easy, I wouldn’t be so good at it”: Nonverbal Ability and Confidence. Alexander Augustus Greenhalgh, The University of Cambridge. Hosted by Liverpool John Moores University, 1st November 2023. https://openjournals.ljmu.ac.uk/PATT40/article/view/1731/955.
Lecturing Roles
2023 - Lecturer of “Environmental Design“ at the Institute for Creative Innovation / University for the Creative Arts (UK) and Xiamen University (China). Department of Architecture and Spatial Design.
2015-16 - Lecturer of “Western Art History“ at Digital Chosun Ilbo Global Education, Seoul South Korea - Undergraduate partnership course with Sussex University and Coventry University (UK). I wrote the school syllabus, lectured and ran seminars from prehistoric art to contemporary, set the exams and assessed students.
2015-16 - Lecturer of “Research Skills and Portfolio Presentation“ at Digital Chosun Ilbo Global Education, Seoul South Korea - Undergraduate partnership course with Sussex University and Coventry University (UK). I wrote the school syllabus, lectured and ran sketchbook workshops.
Guest Lectures
2023 - “Meta-Monuments : Storytelling, Collaboration and the Proxy-Wars of Public Art.“ University of Cambridge, Darwin College, UK.
2022 - Guest lecturer, Southern New Hampshire University, US.
2021 - Guest lecturer and art tutor, Newlyn Art School, UK.
2016 - Lecture at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, Spatial Design Department. London, UK.
2015 – Seoul National University, Communication Design Department Lecture. Seoul, South Korea.
2014 - Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, MA Narrative Environments Lecture. London, UK.
2013 - Halla University Guest lecture. Seoul, South Korea.
2013 - Korea Polytechnics Guest lecture. Seoul, South Korea.
THEATRE / Performance
2016 – The Gate of Silence, Namsan Theatre, Seoul. Collaboration between Modeun Kim and The Bite Back Movement
2016 – Here at the Beginning, There at the End, Cheongju Cultural Council Theatre, Cheongju. Collaboration with Ham Su-youn, traditional Korean performer
2015 – OH MY GOD: 2100 AD Shamans and Goblin Wind (contemporary dance performance), Seoul Culture Station 284, Seoul, South Korea
2013 – Shadow City, educational workshop series and participatory installation for Umbrella Dance Festival. University of the Arts London, Arts Council England. London, UK
2012 – The Cult of Janus, installation and performance. Secret Garden Party Music Festival, UK
WORK IN PERMANENT PUBLIC Spaces / COLLECTIONS
Meleagris Live Free or Die (2022). 5 steel sculptures mounted a The Factory on Willow residence and amphitheatre. Acquisitioned March 2022.
The Birds Who Stayed (2017). 2 steel sculptures mounted on the roof of ZK/U Berlin, Germany. Acquisitioned May 2017.
Orchogany: 11 Gods Reborn (2016). 11 steel sculptures mounted on the roof of Incheon Art Platform building ‘H’. Incheon, South Korea. Acquisitioned May 2016.
The Crown of Grandmother Samshin (2015), from The Shamans of Neo-Joseon series. Steel sculpture, 1.5mx30cmx30cm. Asia Culture Centre, ACC. Gwangju, South Korea. Acquisitioned November 2015.
Here at the Beginning, There at the End: The Pollock God of Cheongju (2015). Permanent installation, 30x50x50m / Sculpture 3mx50cmx100cm. Cheongju Cultural Foundation. Acquisitioned November 2015. Acquisitioned October 2015.
OH MY GOD: What you Believe in 2100AD Book (2014), from the O H MY GOD series. Book, 50x30x4cm. Youngeun Museum, Kyunggido Gwangju, South Korea. Acquisitioned March 2014.
Angel Print 6 (2014), from the OH MY GOD series. Large print on fabric 3x1m. Youngeun Museum, Kyunggido Gwangju, South Korea. Acquisitioned March 2014.
A DANGEROUS FIGURE: Young and Unemployed in the UK (2013). Print on paper 21x27cm. Archived in The National Portrait Gallery, London, UK. Acquisitioned January 2014.