The Poetry of Everyday Wishes

Rooted in the rich symbolism of Korean folk painting, my work explores the timeless human desire for happiness, love, and harmony.

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02

Floral Connection

Inspired by traditional Korean Hwajodo, this work brings together blooming flowers and graceful birds in a harmonious garden. The title Hwayeon (花緣), meaning “a connection through flowers,” reflects the relationships and encounters that blossom naturally in life. Painted with traditional Korean pigments on hanji, the work reinterprets the symbolism and delicate beauty of Minhwa through a contemporary perspective.

03

Still Life of Abundance

This work reinterprets Chaekgeori and traditional Korean still-life painting through a contemporary minhwa lens. Arranged on layered wooden tables, everyday objects—ceramic vessels, writing tools, fruits, and pigments—symbolize knowledge, creativity, prosperity, and cultivated life. The careful balance between order and richness reflects the harmony between material abundance and intellectual pursuit. Rendered with warm colors and decorative detail, the composition offers a quiet celebration of sustenance, learning, and artistic devotion.

04

Summer Night

This work depicts a tranquil summer night scene inspired by traditional Korean minhwa. Lotus flowers bloom quietly across the water as birds gather and glide under the deep blue night sky. In Korean folk painting, lotus blossoms symbolize purity and renewal, while birds represent harmony, family, and continuity. The composition captures a gentle balance between stillness and movement, evoking the calm, life-filled atmosphere of a midsummer evening.

Explore a collection of artworks inspired by the timeless beauty of Korean folk painting, Minhwa. Rooted in tradition yet reimagined through a contemporary lens, each piece tells a story of nature, symbolism, and the quiet wishes woven into everyday life.

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About

Yoonki Kim is a contemporary Korean artist based in Seoul, whose work draws inspiration from the timeless beauty and symbolism of Minhwa, traditional Korean folk painting.

Rooted in centuries of artistic heritage, her paintings explore the delicate relationship between nature, imagination, and human wishes. Through vibrant colors, intricate details, and symbolic imagery, she reinterprets traditional motifs into contemporary visual narratives that celebrate happiness, harmony, prosperity, and hope.

Her artistic journey has been shaped by both Korean traditions and international experiences. She has exhibited her work at the Seoul Arts Center, received awards for her traditional Korean paintings, and participated in an international artist residency at Château d'Orquevaux in France, where she explored new perspectives on cultural identity and artistic expression.

For Yoonki, painting is more than an act of creation. It is a way of preserving stories, sharing wishes, and finding beauty in the ordinary. Each work invites viewers into a world where tradition meets imagination, and where the symbols of the past continue to bloom in the present.

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