Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rina Kim. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Rina, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
My most meaningful project is the series of paintings I am currently working on. They are a group of medium to large-scale still life compositions, depicting objects of trash from my daily life. My familial and cultural background has instilled in me the mindset of conserving resources and being mindful of the planet we live in. By painting these otherwise forgettable or useless objects, I am taking the time to remember and appreciate them before they are inevitably disposed of. While developing these paintings, I realized that the work is a very specific commentary of who I am as a person framed in the context of Western art history and painting techniques. You can tell a lot about a person by the contents of their trash can. So, while my work usually doesn’t contain any human figures, they are all self portraits.
Rina, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
As a child, my dream was to become a fashion designer. I eventually ended up double majoring in studio art and theater at Mount Holyoke College; where I decided to pursue painting in earnest. After my undergraduate studies, I spent a few years in Florence, Italy to learn traditional oil painting techniques. Currently, my working methods are less classical, but I am still deploying the framework of Western still life painting history while commenting on consumerism and environmentalism.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
There are so many things I wish I knew or had done earlier. I wish I had decided to pursue a painting career earlier. I wish I had learned technical skills earlier and faster. I wish I had read more art criticism and had been more aware about contemporary discourse earlier. Even today, I get frustrated that I didn’t read a certain article or book on the train the day before. However, I am currently working on appreciating the experience I have accumulated so far and am trying to work at my own pace instead of rushing to meet my self-imposed expectations.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding part of being an artist is the fact that I am living a life in which I am executing my personal vision. I’ve consistently worked various jobs since my teenage days and through it all I’ve been studying and developing my artistic practice. I am grateful for the stability and opportunities my various work experiences have afforded me, but my creative practice is an incontrovertible calling that is both personal and connected to the world around me. When another person resonates with my paintings, there is a sense of indescribable satisfaction and camaraderie.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rinakimart.com
- Instagram: @rinakimart
