Meet Jiyeon Kim

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jiyeon Kim a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jiyeon, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

My creative inspiration always comes from real-life stories. While stories about people appearing in the news or media are certainly appealing, I also want to delve into something even smaller. My films always aim to eavesdrop on unheard voices, and that process requires paying close attention to my surroundings. And stepping into places that haven’t been privileged is the foundation of my creative endeavors.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Hello. I’m Jiyeon Kim, a creative artist who creates various forms of visual art, focusing on film. I’ve primarily created narrative fiction, but I’ve recently been expanding my subject matter and genres. Experimental film, interactive art, and thread art using embroidery are some examples. Being an individual artist can be quite a lonely endeavor, but I consider media art a blessing because it allows for a lot of interaction with other artists.

I’m currently working on a short film. In fact, I’m almost done with it. The film, titled “Me: JFK, You: ICN”, follows Ina, a flight attendant, as she seeks help in rescheduling her New York-bound flight to Incheon. Ina must change her schedule to attend a family wedding, but she also feels immense pressure in this stressful situation. The film’s central theme is exploring where this pressure comes from and whether Ina can overcome it.

What makes this film so special is its connection to my personal story. As a survivor of incest, I’ve often written about PTSD, diaspora, and family issues, but tackling these topics directly has always been a daunting task.
First of all, I’ve spent a long time evaluating myself and strongly believe I can’t speak for everyone. However, starting with this film, I hope that people who share similar memories can share their stories of survival and add a reason to live. So, I want to capture many stories that haven’t been heard before.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, what three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge would you say have had the greatest impact on your journey? What advice would you give to someone at the beginning of their journey on how to develop or improve these qualities?

I’m still growing, so it’s hard to say with certainty what’s right. However, I can name three things I wish I had explored more carefully in my past, both in filmmaking and in the visual arts.

The first is enjoying a variety of art forms. While it’s great to build happy memories around your passions, it’s equally important to cultivate your own assets by thoroughly enjoying them when the opportunity presents itself. This isn’t something that can be built overnight.

The second is genuine interpersonal relationships. While this isn’t a quality or skill, it can be a bit of a hassle to cultivate genuine relationships as we go through life. It’s crucial to learn to cherish those who care for you and to be someone who knows how to share your love wholeheartedly.

If I were to discuss this further, I’d say this isn’t just about the visual arts. I’ll think hard and pick the third one. Looking back, what three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge would you say have had the greatest impact on your journey? What advice would you give to someone at the beginning of their journey on how to develop or enhance these qualities?

The final point is the skill of translating experiences into various media. This could be a film script, a storyboard itself, or even a variety of formats like photography, writing, poetry, or novels. Each medium has its own unique expression and results, and I think it’s important to experiment and develop your own unique skills.

I’m not sure which is better: focusing on one thing or experiencing many things. It varies from person to person. Still, I find it enjoyable because every accumulation becomes an asset.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

My life has changed so much over the past 12 months that it is hard to pick just one area.
One thing I can be certain of is my attitude toward film. It feels a bit embarrassing to present my story to a large audience. So, I’ve tried to make films that are more entertaining, more comfortable, or more popular. As a result, I’ve had to tell stories that aren’t my own, and I’ve even pretended to make them. But the more honest I become, the more people are willing to listen, and the more confident and happy I become about my films.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Siqi Xiong, Ethan Smith, Takkyung Oh, Qinling Han

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