Exhibition “Lay Artist”

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만인예술가전   [Lay Artist ]  Sept 4th – Oct 6th, 2012 (art center Nabi Gallery)

Exhibition, “Lay Artist” was a group media art exhibition curated by Art Center Nabi.   Younghui’s original piece from 2008 exhibition in Dallas, “Social Fabrics” was invited to show in this exhibition.  (artwork titled “Stir It On! 부딪쳐라!”)

“Stri It On!” at the Art Center Nabi

She showcased one original (still in a good condition after five years) piece along with new edition created with a different technique and parts.  Along with one-month long exhibition, she taught a special two day workshop on Wearable Technology for public applicants.  It was held at Art Center Nabi gallery – Aug 22, 23rd.

Her interview titled as “Wearable Computing as Art” is included in their in depth catalog.

Cataglog
Younghui teaching Wearable Technology Workshop at the Art Center Nabi

MFA student’s thesis project, “Conversation”

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I have advised a master’s thesis project for my former TA, Kyungmi Kim for about two years and she has finally completed both her wearable project and thesis.  (also passed the thesis review at the end of December)

“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.

Body Graffiti v. 2.0

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Younghui is working on Body Graffiti version 2.0 currently along other her other series on Wearable Technology Art.  Compared to previous version, this version has double resolution (64 pixel) to draw better graphic and will have better fashion design.  The new CPB is a lot thinner and flexible and modular so it won’t make any wearable bulky and a flat rechargeable Lithium battery with a voltage regulator will be used.    The finished design will be on the blog soon but, here is the cpb version 2.0.

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

Body graffiti version 2.0

Digital Media Art Camp in Seoul

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<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.

Current Publications

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May 22nd, 2010

[ new release of a book, ‘Metamorphosis’ & two projects in it ]

Two of the past wearable projects, ‘HearWear‘ & ‘Stir It On!‘ are featured in the newly released book ‘Metamorphosis’ by Stoffel Kuenen and Elisabetta Cianfanelli, from the University of Florence, Department of Industrial Design and Fashion Design.  At fashioningtech.com, there is an article about this book’s release. From the article, this book deals with a very interesting subject in fashion & technology.  I will soon get a copy of this book and I’m excited to finding out what’s inside!

Here is where you can purchase ‘Metamorphosis’ >>>

Metamorphosis is in both Itlalian and English.

March 29th, 2010

[ Interview at Fashioning Technology ]

Younghui had an interview regarding her recent project, ‘Body Graffiti v.1.0’ with Syuzi from fashioningtech.com last month. Below are excerpt from the article, “Body Graffiti — A Kinetic Display Created Through Dance & Movement”

When did you become interested in performance wearables?

My first wearable project was a costume (a future media jacket) for a performance, ‘AfroFuturistic’ at The Kitchen, New York, 2003. I could say that I’ve always been interested in performance wearables from the moment I started to create fashion items integrated with technology.

Dancers, more particularly modern & experimental dancers, have been early adopters of wearable technology. What do you see as the attraction for dancers to integrate wearable technology into their costumes and performance?

I find that wearable itself can be an expressive media platform. At the same time, worn by a performer during performance, it elevates expressibility of body language as creating a stronger media platform combining two forms of media that have been so close to art and technology – wearable and performance. I’m sure modern & experimental dancers are attracted to wearable technology for the same reason that I am attracted to as one of wearable technology artists.

… Read more interview article >>>

The Article in the Christian Science Monitor

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Interactive fashion lets costumers wear devices on their sleeves

Does this computer come in a Size 6?

An article written by Mark Guarino has a couple of quotes from an interview with Younghui Kim, an wearable media artist who has been working on fashion technology projects since 2003.   She was staying in LES, New York working on her various projects when she was interviewed over the phone late January.

(…)

Having designers rethink sewing as coding takes extreme patience and a willingness to collaborate, says Younghui Kim, a self-described “interactive wearable media artist” in New York who teaches at Hongik University in Korea.

Ms. Kim is a rarity in the fashion world: She became interested in design only after working for years in telecommunications. Staring at computer screens all day created “a really strong need to design something [she] could feel or touch.”

“So I started picking up sewing machines and fabrics, and I designed like a software engineer,” she says. At the time, around 2002, it was frustrating for her to see designers make interactive clothing that was functional, rather than beautiful or comfortable.

She created “HearWear,” a series of couture skirts laden with sensors that trigger illuminating wires depending on how loud the area is. The skirt becomes “a city ear painting,” she says.

(…)

This is a good article about where fashion technology is now and where it is heading and Here is the link if you like to read the full article at The Christian Science Monitor >>>

and ABC News >>>