The abstract of the presentation is below:

Pushing the Boundary of Art and Technology:  Wearable Technology Art and Else

In the process of creating, artists have been playing with technology since old days, whether they are technology of materials like fresco paints, acrylic, or new media platform like photography or computer generated art.  Artists try to push the boundary of art wider, sometimes aided with technology and at the same time, one can see that scientists also try to push the boundary of human knowledge through applications in human lives.  I am here to show you some small examples of what happens when technology meets art.  Through artistic experiments that may seem useless, innovative idea may become a real application and product one day, I hope.

I will present and discuss about my current wearable technology projects in sense of how it was inspired and what kind of process it took to become a working prototype,   especially  in sense of how I take and understand technology in artist’s point of view.

Art and Science are very close but, often the approaches take its differences.   Dealing with art & technologies, I found it hard to balance both as they often come from two different directions.  There are no right or wrong approaches but, one thing sure is that you have to have an open mind to be creative!

The 3rd Junglim Forum of this year, 2011

Last Thursday (Nov 24, 2011) in Seoul was a cold night.  Younghui was the second speaker along with other two guest speakers.  She spoke about media-fied fashion in relation to media-fied architecture, showing architectural projects that are related to wearable media art projects.  With the title of talk,  “Media-fy Yourself”-복식을 미디어화하다 – she presented her past & current wearable art projects and emphasized that one can now choose one’s media platform in order to express or communicate instead of staying inside of one kind of media platform.

This year’s Junglim Forum is about “Raw Innovation” “Cooked Innovation” and there were total of 8 speakers from various field of new media, dance, performance, design and etc – total of three occasions in July, Sept, and Nov.

Thank you for the kind support of Junglim foundation, there were dinner sandwiches, red wine, chocolates and good company and talks.

Thanks for everyone who came in cold weather.

The Creators Project, UK ‘s article started with

Body Graffiti: When Wearable Technology Shines A Message

From its medieval advent when Roger Bacon suggested using convex glass to improve eyesight to the illuminated fashion label MOON Berlin, which debuted its inaugural line just this year, wearable technology is as much a part of the everyday as it is the “novel.” From a pair of glasses to interactive lamp dresses, such wearable innovations have made our lives that much easier and that much more exciting. As wearable technology is defined simply as “fashion that incorporates electronics and computerised devices,” Younghui Kim also jumps on the bandwagon. Yet with her wearables, there’s a different sort of message.  <continued>

The Creators Project Korean article starts with:

바디 그래피티: 착용가능한 테크놀로지가 메시지를 빛낸다

… 바디 그래피티는 계속 진행 중인 프로젝트로 다른 웨어러블 미디엄을 통해 발전하면서 웨어러블 테크놀로지를 한층 당당한 수준으로 끌어 올린다. 커스텀 디자인 LED POV 시스템을 이용해서 텍스트건 그래픽이건 여러 메시지들을 프로그래밍 한다. 조끼나 바지, 부츠 같은 착용 가능한 것들에 LED를 꿰매 넣기 때문에 이 비주얼 그래피티는 움직임 속에서 보여질 수가 있다. ….  <중략>  기사 더보기

Just to add a little bit about background in my wearable projects:

My research on the wearable art has started since 2002 and my first wearable project was a technoloy jacket for the mutimedia poetry performance costume. (Afrofuturistic, at The Kitchen, New York 2003) Since then HearWear: The Fashion of Environmental Noise Display project has followed.   It will be almost 10 years since I’ve started to play with wearable media next year…  <smile>

Korean Times Weekly Magazine

Cover story:  ”Solo Exhibition by Younghui Kim, “Bottari”

“When everyday life crosses over media art”  - article by Jinwoo Park

Here is the online version of the article about my solo media art exhibition at B2Project >>>>

FRENZY International Fashion Magazine, Winter 2010

“High Tech Couture” by Madigan Talmage-Bowers

‘HearWear’ and ‘Stir It On!’ are featured in this article.  It is an interesting article in general.

….Remember the childhood excitement of light-up shoes that flashed on impact? New York-based designers Younghui Kim and Milena Berry expand the concept for the 21st century with HearWear, a line of “wearable electronic” wrap skirts. Inspired by the fast-paced urban rhythms of Manhattan and Seoul, HearWear promotes the idea that consumers should be more in touch with and expressive through their environments. The skirts fuse audio and visual stimulation, responding to noise with LED panels imbedded in the fabric. Battery-powered sensors hidden in the waistbands activate the panels and electroluminescent wires embroidered into the garments’ design. The louder the noise, the more intense the impromptu light show. “We work not only towards a better environmental awareness for most people, but also towards the unnoticeable integration of technology in your day-to-day fashion and lifestyle,” says Kim of her creations. She is also debuting a sister line of skirts dubbed Stir it On! which respond to physical stimulation such as being jostled on a crowded street or dance floor. The built-in sensors could be applied to almost any wearable piece, including handbags, accessories, and jackets.

(…from the article, please click here to read the whole article>>>>)

at B2Project, April 2nd – April 20th, 2011, Seoul.  Gallery closes everyday from 1pm-10pm and closes every Monday.

Here is a link regarding the exhibition at Neolook.net

“Conversation” is a set of dresses that communicates with each other visually (in this case, in different color of LEDs and blinks.)  The artist tried to visualize the process of conversation and how the listener can be influenced by the talker.   If the wearers are within a certain distance from each other (friendly space,) they can influence each other by talking to each other.  The dress of the listening wearer’s color changed to the color of the talking wearer in this case.  This represents inner changes and spiritual communion achieved by their conversation and is being visualized . 

Blue tooth network, IR distance sensor, Arduino and R

The artists has earned BFA and MFA from Digital Media Design dept of Hongik University, Jochiwon Campus, College of Design and Media.

Radio Interview with Younghui Kim, 17, 20 and 22 September 2010

(From Patrickwjordan.net )

Patrick’s interview with designer and artist Younghui Kim will be broadcast this month on his Extraordinary Lives radio show.

Kim is recognised as one of the most original and creative figures in the world of digital media, with her work winning numerous awards and gaining extensive media coverage. This work combines the latest developments in technology with leading-edge fashion and product design.

Kim has her own company, Missing Pixel, which is based in New York and lectures at Hongik University in South Korea, where she has also carries out groundbreaking research at the Hongik WCU Media Public Art Research Center.

In the show she charts her career, showcases some of her work and shares the secrets of her success in this most competitive of industries.

The hour-long show will be broadcast on 10 Radio at Friday 17 September at 11 am, Monday 20 September at 7 pm and Wednesday 22 Sept at 6 am. All times UK. To listen live on the internet please click here at these times.

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For time zone converting – http://www.timezoneconverter.com

For the finished Body Graffiti version 2.0, Swing Boots, click here to read >>>

Body graffiti version 2.0

<짜릿한 전기파티: Zestful Electric Party> WCU Digital Media Art Camp will be held intensively for a week, from June 28th to July 3rd, 2010 in Seoul.   This camp is for professional designers and artists who have interests in physical computing and media art but, haven’t had a chance to learn physical computing & visual programming.  There will be intro classes for Physical Computing and Processing then some open optional one day workshops for participants to choose.  This camp is organized and funded by Hongik University WCU Digital Media Public Art Research Center.

During the wcu digital media art camp, Younghui will be teaching a one day workshop, “Expressive Wearable Technology” on wed, June 30th! She will demonstrate how to make soft electronic sensors using conductive fabrics and thread and also how to use Lilypad Arduino during this workshop.  Participants will make interactive wearable sound applications or visual displays during this intensive workshop.

Below are results from two sessions of 4 hour wearable workshops by Hongik University BFA students.