Lara Kim

Interview with Lara Kim

Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?

As a child, I never imagined I would be an artist, but I liked to think creatively a lot and enjoyed drawing them. But I didn't show it to the people around me. Before I decided to become an artist, I had so many mental wanderings. After many years, I began to know myself that I was really talented at making creative art. And I decided to paint until the end of my life and I had the courage to show others.

Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?

My studio is in Korea. There is a space for displaying my paintings and a space for drawing. I work alone in my studio.

What is "design" for you?

For me, design is a new connection. It inspires me and makes me alive.

What kinds of works do you like designing most?

I like to express the emotions and thoughts felt by the dynamics and creative beings that occur in various situations and connections.

What was the first thing you designed for a company?

I haven't designed anything for the company yet. So far, I have created original works for sale.

When do you feel the most creative?

I explode with creative thoughts when I'm really having fun. At the maximum of the pleasure, I become deeply immersed and the things that wander in my head are clearly connected.

Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?

I think it is important to connect and separate from various and new perspectives.

What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?

When I pass the stage of thinking and express it with pictures, I feel that my mind is rather calm. It seems to be a sense of relief that I am drawing a picture. Of course, I worry a lot when expressing or changing detailed parts and sometimes I suffer if things don't go the way I thought.

What makes a design successful?

My results were successful when the stage of imagining the design was the most important and the imagination was really good.

How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?

It is expected that design will be applied to virtual worlds in the future.

When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?

The final exhibition was held in Incheon, South Korea from Jan 25 to Feb 7, 2021. My artworks will be exhibited at collabohaus dosan in Seoul in April 2022. and at the Louvre in Paris in September 2022.

Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?

I get the inspiration of design from everything but I'm particularly interested in people. So I look at things that show human nature or relationships and think about them a lot.

How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?

My painting is pure, unreasonable and expresses multiple meanings. The dynamic of a young feeling holds energy just before eruption. A black line means a frame and no frame, and both finite and infinite.

Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?

I am living in Korea. Although Korean culture influences my art world, it’s not a big impact to me. However, it is a great advantage that freedom of creation and presentation are guaranteed. There is no shortcomings.

How do you work with companies?

I haven't worked with a company so far. I just worked on selling pictures. However, I look forward to working with the company in the future.

What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?

I think trust between companies and designers is the most important.

Can you talk a little about your design process?

There is a moment in which the things that wander in my head are connected creatively and meaningfully when I sit quietly in my space and enter the stage of immersion and joy before drawing the ideas of the painting.

Can you describe a day in your life?

I paint in the morning, take a walk in the afternoon, think about the idea of the painting, and do other tasks. In the evening, I paint again or do various activities.

Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?

I haven't been long since I published a painting to the world. So I have so much to learn as an artist.

From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?

I'm an artist who has a strong point in being creative. I look forward to my art being used in practical products. However, if I become a professional designer, I have to consider practical purposes. Disadvantages is that it can limit designers, but advantages can benefit many users with their design.

What skills are most important for a designer?

Take a time to think of ideas every day, and realize them. That is the most important skill.

Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?

Every morning at 7am I go to my studio, draw pictures, think of ideas and go home at 7pm. Stay isolated as much as possible so as not to interfere with mental activity.

How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?

Each art work has different time to finish. it takes two or three weeks for the short one and months for the long one.

What was your most important job experience?

I had so many jobs. Everything I experienced is important because it's had a lot of influence on my painting now.

What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?

I like to express my ideas with acrylic paint. It has the property of drying quickly, making it advantageous to add ideas that pop into my head.

What are your future plans? What is next for you?

I have the most important plan to keep painting. The next plan is to have an exhibition at the gallery. And if I have a chance, I want to participate in various art fairs.

Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?

I'm not working as a team, I'm doing the whole process of drawing from the beginning.

Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?

Now I'm painting a picture of the connection between past and present life and life after death.

Designer of the Day Interview with Lara Kim

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?

I am a pure artist. I didn't have official art education, but I felt sentimental from an early age, imagined creatively, and enjoyed drawing it. I started uploading my paintings on social media a year ago. Since then, I got the opportunity to sell works in partnership with galleries in Korea, and sells original paintings on the Artsper online platform in France.

How did you become a designer?

I thought creatively and diversely and really liked to paint it. But I didn't have the courage to show it to anyone. Of course I didn't think I'd be an artist. I worked in a lot of part-time jobs but none of them fit me. I failed so many things and couldn't adapt well to the world. Then one day, I thought I didn't want to end my life like this. I had a strong passion to leave my paintings after I died. Previously, cheap materials were used to paint alone in spare time without anyone knowing. However, after that day, I bought professional paints and canvases and began painting most of the time.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

When I paint, I try to immerse myself in a quiet space alone. When I enter that stage of immersion, I connect and separate the many things I want to hold strongly among the many things I have accumulated in my head so far. After that process I get something that connects. It is sketched, modified, moved to canvas, and painted with a brush, other tools, or hand with acrylic paint or other materials.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

I have a strong sense of immersion and a pleasure when I imagine an idea. To imagine an idea, I have to feel pleasant. If I'm too sad or depressed, I'm in a slump and can't start. I get rid of standards, be generous and pursue childlike pleasures to escape oppression and framing. But it doesn't just mean the idea of a pleasant subject. Joy is the key to opening the door, but once I enter it, I feel all my emotions, memories, thoughts, intuition, etc. It uses a lot of energy, captures the moment, connects and separates it. When I’m thinking of an idea that time makes me feel that I’m alive. After the idea is finished, I begin to implement on canvas. I feel good if it goes well as intended, but I worry a lot if it doesn't go well as intended. After all that process, I feel positive about myself when one piece is completed. It supports my life.

What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?

My sensitivity and intuition are the important factors that make the idea of my painting. Ever since I was young, I have loved to feel sensitive and intuitive about things that are invisible. Those tendencies helped me imagine, and became the personality of my paintings.

What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?

I liked to imagine and paint with intuition. I just liked to paint with my own personality. So I didn't have the courage to show others. My parents didn't like me painting, they wanted me to have another job. They wanted me to be more emotionally strong. They were conventional people. But I was a child who felt sensitive and hated convention. When I was exposed to a lot of people and a lot of situations, I was confused and lost because of a lot of stimulation. So even now, I usually meet a few people and prefer to live in isolation for my artistic mental activity. My desire for my painting is bordering on instinct. I want my paintings to inspire many people. So after I die, I want to be inspired by the work of an artist who tries to leave creative pictures behind.

What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?

I'm just an artist who wants to keep painting. I have a great affection for all my paintings, but I don't think I'm successful now. So honestly, I have nothing to advise to new designers. I spend almost all my time painting in my isolated space in my own way. So practical advice, such as curator, gallery, and mechanical system of the a'design award & competition was more important to me than anything else.

You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?

I really appreciate you telling me that I succeeded as a designer. But I'm not an artist enough to give advice or suggestions to anyone. I’m just an artist who I imagine creatively and enjoy drawing it.

What is your day to day look like?

I arrive at the studio at 7 a.m. And I clean up a little bit and drink coffee looking out of the window. I paint in the morning and do miscellaneous things in the afternoon. And I paint again. At the end of the day, I encounter various contents such as books, movies, and general news. To be honest, thinking and drawing ideas in my own way makes me the happiest and most excited. So sometimes I just want to keep drawing.

How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?

For my ingenuity I tend to avoid looking at other people's paintings or designs. I want to keep making my own designs with creativity. I draw inspiration from small and varied things. These days, I enjoy watching news and reality contents.

How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?

In my case, when the painting is unique and the message is delivered well, I am satisfied with my painting. But in general, when I encounter the design of a product, I think it is a good design if it fits the purpose of use and is convenient.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

What is your biggest design work?

I'm proud and special about most of the works except a few. Every moment I draw those pictures, I put in a lot of creative effort. Of course, I feel that the quality of the painting improves over time.

Who is your favourite designer?

I don't have a favorite architect, artist, designer. I just admire and like most of the creators.

Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?

I think and paint ideas in a very quiet state. I like isolated life and I hate conventional things. The place where my studio is is clean and beautiful. There are great design buildings, streets and parks here. When I need a rest, I walk in the park and on the street. I feel respected because of beautiful, modern and natural design of my surroundings. It really refreshes me and helps me create artwork.

Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?

I like to work alone in isolation. However, when choosing a business partner, the dominant person is not preferred. I don't want a partner who can be suppressed to my creativity or mental activity. My creativity comes from a free, unbridled imagination. Therefore, we need a partner who can protect it. I like partners who are fair, cooperative and can keep their economic promises.

What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?

I was only engaged in painting myself in isolation. Although I have tried to paint pictures that inspire many, I regret to say that I have not made a philanthropic contribution to society. But I have great respect and gratitude for people who do those things. Before painting, I served society with other occupations.

What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?

First of all, I am truly grateful that the design award recognized the value of my art. They returned detailed feedback on what I described. It has improved my skills to explain my paintings a lot, and I felt various feeling like traveling. I am given the opportunity to promote my paintings and designs to many countries because the Awards are prestigious worldwide. That means that my art can be used in a variety of areas beyond the realm of pure art. Until now, I've had a feeling of happiness that I’ve been painting which is my favorite hobby but at the same time anxiety to uncertainty about my future. But by winning this award this time, I have more confidence in my future.

Extended Interview with Lara Kim

How did you become a designer?

I am interested in humans and I like to imagine and express it in pictures. I just thought it was a favorite thing to do. I didn't think it would be a job, so I did a lot of other things. But no job gave me satisfaction and happiness. So finally, I decided to become a painter. Now I've found my true self and I'm happy.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

One day I decided to quit other things and become a painter. That is 100 percent my decision.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

I want to paint a picture that is instinctive, intuitive, unreasonable and multiple.

What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?

I am not a legendary designer. I'm in a position to learn a lot.

What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?

I think a good designer is a person who can design for practical purposes. I think a good designer is someone who can continue to design with originality, in addition to being able to do practical design.

What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?

I think creativity is the factor that makes a good design a really good design.

You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?

It increases the quality of people's lives. It can also give fresh impetus to people's brains, and it makes them feel good.

What is your day to day look like?

I want to simultaneously express the meanings of different views and exist the relationship of various creatures that can be feel between instinct including reason, consciousness that have unconsciousness, ego and without ego I want to draw for people who like creative paintings.

How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?

I want to paint everything in my imagination for the rest of my life. That is my dream project.

How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?

It's imagination. When I think of the idea of painting, I concentrate strongly and try to eliminate all oppression. That makes the imagination richer.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

I am impressed when I see a lot of great designs. But there is no designer who inspired me particularly.

What is your biggest design work?

Whenever I see a design with original or practical elements, I love it and admire the designer.

Who is your favourite designer?

I think most of my paintings are great. Because I can find something creative and unique in my paintings.

Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?

In my case, every day I try. I try to think and express ideas every day.

What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?

I think a design is to make detailed drawings of something that has a practical purpose. But the design for me is a reflection of creative thinking.

What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?

It's my family who gave me the greatest support for being an artist.