We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kun Kyung Sok. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kun Kyung below.

Kun Kyung , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on is Paint-Pal, a project I started earlier this year as part of my larger initiative, My Right Hand & Your Left Hand. This broader project began as a response to a personal experience—an injury to my left arm—which led me to explore collaboration using my right hand and another person’s left hand in various activities such as cooking, knitting, and painting. Paint-Pal specifically focuses on painting and is inspired by the concept of Pen-Pal, where friendships are built through letter exchanges. Instead of words, Paint-Pal fosters connection through images, colors, and brushstrokes.

The process itself is simple yet deeply engaging. Two participants each receive a canvas. We begin by agreeing on a theme—such as memory, belonging, or a shared experience—and each person paints their interpretation of the theme without completing the piece. The canvases are then exchanged, allowing the other person to finish the artwork. This back-and-forth process creates a visual dialogue, much like writing letters to one another.

I plan to continue evolving Paint-Pal, exploring different themes each year. This year’s theme was food, which led to fascinating discoveries about how people perceive and interpret the same object differently. A simple onion, for example — though it was the same onion, one person was drawn to its skin, the other to its core — yet both found meaning in the mesh that held it together. Similarly, an oyster could symbolize tears for one person and a pearl for another. These differences go beyond mere personal preferences; they reveal how our experiences and memories shape the way we see the world, making visual language a powerful tool for storytelling.

What makes Paint-Pal so meaningful to me is its exploration of relationships, communication, and collaboration. Unlike verbal or written language, which can be limiting, visual storytelling offers a more intuitive and inclusive form of expression. It also challenges traditional notions of artistic ownership, as each piece is co-created, requiring trust and openness between participants.

In many ways, this project reflects my own journey—navigating different cultures, seeking belonging, and understanding human connection beyond words. Collaborating with people from diverse backgrounds has shown me how a single theme can take on completely different meanings through another person’s perspective, making the process both humbling and inspiring.
Ultimately, Paint-Pal is more than just an art project; it is a metaphor for human connection. It reminds us that relationships are built through exchange, that communication extends beyond language, and that collaboration can lead to unexpected and beautiful outcomes.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a multidisciplinary artist, born in Seoul and now based in New York. My journey into art has been anything but conventional. Growing up during Korea’s rapid economic boom, I was initially drawn to political science and development studies, motivated by a desire to contribute to more equitable economic progress. This led me to work in several developing countries, where I witnessed firsthand the complexities of structural inequality. However, over time, I came to see art as the most profound means of transcending struggle—both personal and societal. Art, for me, became not just a form of expression but a tool for exploring relationships, constraints, and the possibility of transformation.

One of my most significant projects, My Right Hand and Your Left Hand, is an extension of these ideas. It emerged from a deeply personal experience—an injury to my left arm—that compelled me to rethink the relationship between physical limitations, interdependence, and creativity. Rather than viewing my injury as a restriction, I saw it as an invitation to explore how two individuals can create something beyond their individual capacities. The project embodies a multidisciplinary approach to creativity, collaboration, participation, and community, while also questioning traditional notions of authorship and artistic boundaries.

At its core, My Right Hand and Your Left Hand is an experiment in shared creation. The process involves working with another individual, where we navigate constraints together, allowing for serendipity and open-ended narratives to shape the outcome. It is not merely about combining our distinct artistic styles, but about engaging in a dialogue—one that leads to an entirely new aesthetic that neither of us could have achieved alone. This exploration of symbiosis, bodily interaction, and shared experiences drives much of my work.

More broadly, my practice is rooted in the belief that artists are constantly pushing the limits of reality in order to transcend its struggles. My work often engages with themes of environmental issues, collaboration, communication, and relationships—particularly in the context of coexistence among all living beings. I am deeply invested in uncovering the aesthetics that emerge from the existence and interactions of all forms of life.

What sets my work apart is its emphasis on process, dialogue, and the unpredictability of collaboration. I strive to create art that is not just about the self, but about connections—between people, bodies, and ideas. For those encountering my work for the first time, I want them to know that my artistic practice is not about presenting fixed meanings but about creating spaces for exploration, interaction, and new ways of seeing.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

About ten years ago, while working in Cameroon, Africa, I faced a significant challenge—communication. Due to language barriers, I struggled to connect with the local community, making it difficult to fully engage with the people I was working with. This limitation became particularly evident during a project aimed at establishing a village library.

As part of this initiative, we decided to create a mural on the library walls. What started as a simple artistic addition quickly turned into a transformative experience. I realized that visual expression—through colors, shapes, and imagery—could communicate ideas and emotions far more effectively than words alone. The mural became a bridge, fostering understanding and building relationships in ways that language could not. It was at this moment that I recognized the power of visual art as a tool for communication, collaboration, and connection.

This realization led me to pivot towards a more art-centered approach in my work. I became increasingly interested in how art, beyond being an object of personal appreciation, could serve as an active medium for dialogue and engagement. Today, my artistic practice is deeply rooted in this belief. I strive to develop art that is not just for individual contemplation but one that facilitates meaningful exchanges between people, encourages collaboration, and strengthens relationships. This shift in perspective continues to shape my work, driving me to explore the intersection of art, communication, and human connection in ever-evolving ways.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The driving force behind my creative journey is the belief that art should challenge and inspire new ways of thinking about human life and relationships. My ultimate goal is to use art as a catalyst for creative exploration, encouraging people to engage with one another in meaningful and unexpected ways.

A more immediate goal is to expand Paint-Pal, my ongoing project, and share it with a broader audience. I want Paint-Pal to go beyond the art world and reach people from all walks of life—regardless of age, background, or profession. This project is not just about creating art; it is about fostering self-discovery, communication, and connection. By engaging in this collaborative process, I hope participants will not only gain new perspectives on their own creativity but also form deeper relationships with others.

Ultimately, I believe in the transformative power of art—not only as a personal expression but as a means to purify, elevate, and enrich our lives. Through my work, I strive to create spaces where people can come together, break down barriers, and experience the profound ways in which art can connect and transform us.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kunkyungsok.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kunsokart/?hl=ko
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kunkyung.sok.5
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kun-kyung-sok-69ab5038/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kunkyungsok4059