As we eagerly await the arrival of The Gateway Korea, we invite you to join us on our journey to our flagship event that will take place worldwide. The Gateway will feature an audiovisual gallery where art, technology and community converge. Participants can also chat by the fire with visionary makers around the world, representing both Western and Eastern culture.
While on our way to Korea, we interviewed some of the biggest Korean creators in the Web3 space who will be exhibiting at the event, each pioneering their artistic journey in unique ways.
Krista Kim is a contemporary artist and founder of the ‘Techism’ movement – a philosophy that recognizes technological innovation as an artistic discipline and encourages artists to promote digital humanism for our digital culture. This unique philosophy considers technological innovation not just as a tool, but as an artistic discipline in itself.
According to Kim, techism pushes for the marriage of art and technology in ways that promote digital humanism, emphasizing the need for a more interconnected and humane digital culture. This ethos is in line with The Gateway’s mission: to highlight and take the revolutionary and groundbreaking facets of art to the next level.
Kim is also the creator of Mars House, one of the very first Metaverse houses for sale as an NFT. The piece rose to worldwide acclaim and in March 2021 was the highest-grossing sale of an NFT on SuperRare. Since then she has collaborated with brands such as Mercedes Benz EQS and Louis Vuitton and has been featured in auctions at both Sotheby’s and Christie’s. She is also teaming up with Emmy award-winning immersive director Peter Martin to co-found [0]an innovation lab and creative studio.
Her artistic expression delves into meditative painting in the digital age, where she skillfully combines technology as a mechanism for well-being, bringing harmony and serenity to the ever-evolving digital landscape. Krista now began to talk about her international childhood, how the fusion of Eastern and Western influences is reflected in her art, and how Asia’s cultural ascendancy is shaping the next generation.
The circle is round
Krista Kim is a Canadian Korean who grew up in Toronto and also lived in Seoul and other parts of Asia for thirteen years.
Drawing on her heritage and early experiences, she said her upbringing has had a great impact on her art.
She cites her father, who is a Supreme Grandmaster of Taekwondo (and was a pioneer of Taekwondo in Canada), as an influence in learning about Korean culture.
“My father introduced martial arts to me and my two younger sisters. The lessons of meditation, ethics and discipline profoundly shaped our childhood,” Kim recalled. “In my artistry I channel my experiences as a meditator, interweaving Eastern philosophy in a tapestry of East and West. It is a reinterpretation of my upbringing.”
Yet she strayed from this path during her college years. It was only after spending time in Japan and Korea and immersing herself in the culture that she reconnected. For Kim, understanding the origins of the practice was critical. She came to see wellness and mindfulness as constant journeys, echoing the feelings passed down by her father.
Kim battled personal challenges like depression and anxiety and sought solace in a familiar refuge. “I returned to meditation because I knew it would help me,” she confided. “It was the right decision. And when I got enrolled in my art school, I started meditating again. And then I completely immersed myself in making art that healed me. and that is where my art comes from.” This therapeutic journey through art not only served as a healing mechanism for Kim, but also shaped her unique artistic identity.
Since then, Kim has remained steadfast in her passion, using her artwork as a bridge to convey her emotions and experiences.
Featured work at The Gateway: Korea
Kim’s digital art, inspired by diverse cultures, has gained international acclaim. She will showcase some of her most loved pieces at Korea Blockchain Week and The Gateway Korea.
“I’m showing ‘Continuum’, which is currently touring the world. I initiated it in 2017, originally known as ‘8 by 8.’ My vision was to conceive of this big screen activation as a public art installation that promotes meditation and healing,” said Kim. “It has been exhibited in Gateway and Seoul and recently in Tianjin, China, during Summer Davos for the World Economic Forum.”
Continuum’s next stop is Davos, Switzerland. The global journey is a testament to the message of uniting people in the digital space.
Kim also announced that she will be sharing “Resonance,” a digital video that guides viewers on an 8-minute journey of discovering themselves, inviting them to tap into their inner light and peace, despite the challenges they may face. to get.
“The soothing gradients provide a visual escape from the tumult our minds can experience, beckoning one to seek refuge within themselves by letting go of thoughts and feeling visceral instead,” Kim shared.
Reflecting on the current digital age and Korea’s cultural impact on the younger generation, Kim comments, “It is truly heartening to see my children adjust so well and make friends so easily in this multicultural, global world. With the advent of digital technology, these connections are getting deeper and deeper.”
She adds that she is honored to be a part of NFT Now’s first global event. “I envision a future with more fluidity, especially cultural fluidity.” Kim believes the digital art space, especially through platforms like nft now, has the power to break through cultural barriers. This global connectivity enables artists like her to share diverse stories and bridge understanding across borders.