Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Da-Hyun Kim. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Da-Hyun, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is “I Sometimes Feel Alone in the Crowd”, a photography series capturing moments from the overlooked towns that quietly endure outside the glow of Los Angeles. The photos in this project were taken in small towns across California, each image exploring the bittersweet dance between isolation and community.
Working on this project allowed me to visit cities beyond LA and meet incredible people along the way. As a South Korean who moved to Los Angeles, my world initially revolved around the city itself – I didn’t know much about the places beyond it. This project became a way for me to not only connect with others but also to understand the country more deeply. Through these travels, I see that beauty exists everywhere. In the quiet corners, in everyday moments, and in the resilience of people and places often overlooked.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a photographer and painter, drawn to the quiet poetry of everyday life. My photography focuses on moments and subjects that might seem mundane at first glance; an alleyway behind an apartment building, a neighbor’s laundry caught in the wind. But within these fleeting, overlooked scenes, I see something universal: a sense of home, connection, and quiet belonging. I want my images to pause people, to remind them that even in the simplest moments, we are not alone—we share the same air, the same light, the same human experience.

In my paintings, I take a different approach. While my settings might feel familiar, there is always something slightly off, reflecting the way I often feel in the world. I explore themes of alienation, between belonging and otherness. My work invites people to question what they see, to sit with the discomfort of feeling separate yet deeply intertwined with the world around them.

At the heart of both my photography and painting is the desire to make people feel seen. Whether through quiet, everyday beauty or provoking paintings, I hope my work resonates with others in a way that reminds them they are heard, they are connected, they are not truly alone.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the ability to express my thoughts, beliefs, and perspectives on society through a visual medium. There are moments when I reflect on aspects of the world that could be different, and rather than just holding those thoughts inside, I weave them into my work. Art allows me to communicate in ways that words sometimes cannot.

What I love most is that my audience experiences my work in their own way. A single glance at an image or painting can evoke a feeling, a memory, or even a shift in perspective. Sometimes without them fully realizing what I was trying to convey. And that, to me, is the beauty of art. Even if they don’t interpret it the way I intended, they engage with it, they feel something. And if nothing else, I hope they simply enjoy the work itself. :)

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

People who aren’t in the creative field often say that pursuing your dreams as an artist is incredibly difficult and they’re right. It is hard. Some days feel like an endless journey with no clear destination, no guarantee of success. In the creative world, there’s constant pressure to be in the top 1%, because the fear of fading into obscurity is always lingering.

That being said, I believe this struggle isn’t exclusive to creatives. No matter the industry or profession, we should all strive to grow, to improve, and to push ourselves to be better. The fight to evolve isn’t just for artists, it’s for anyone who refuses to stay stagnant.

But beyond chasing success, I think we should also fight for something even more important – to be kind to ourselves and others, to seek love in our lives, and to forgive ourselves when we fall short. These aren’t just things we hope for; they are things worth struggling for, just as much as any dream or ambition.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dadakim.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dadakiim/
• Other: Email: [email protected]

Image Credits

All images by DADA KIM.
www.dadakim.com