Meet David Kim | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with David Kim and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?

There are many things that make me happy like spending time with
my family and friends. But when it comes to working, designing and
creating 3d objects is my favorite thing to do. I’ve always loved looking
at interior / exterior design / architecture at a young age and I still
remember being hyper every time I was looking at luxurious apartment
models when I was in kindergarten. Ikea was one of my favorite
places when I was living in Canada during my elementary and middle
school years. And even today, I really love visiting. I’m also into
product design and sculpture. These types of things got me interested
in going towards the art field and is why I decided to go to art school.

During my 2nd semester of junior year, I decided to create my own
BDSM toys. It explores the cultural and aesthetic language of BDSM.
BDSM being short for Bondage/Discipline/Sadomasochism, is a term
used to describe a variety of erotic practices or roleplaying actions that
involve dominance, submission, and control. The practice of BDSM
typically involves one partner taking on a more dominant role during
sexual activity, while the other takes on a more submissive role. The
broader practice of BDSM is divided in different categories such as
Bondage, Discipline, Dominance, Submission, Sadomasochism, and
other related interpersonal acts.

As a person who has lived in Canada and the United States since
childhood, I’ve had the chance to see and experience things that most
people living in Korea cannot do themselves due to cultural
differences. Korea has always been a conservative country because
of the cultural base that has been historically rooted in Confucianism;
these values make it hard to talk about sex with others whether in
public or even in private. I have noticed a drastic difference in opinions

between East Asian people who have lived abroad for years and
those who have not fully had the chance to experience the Western
culture of the United States. But in the Western culture, sexuality is
very openly discussed even in spite of a largely conservative culture.
Based on my experiences of living in the States and in Korea, I have
noticed that many people here would make a sincere attempt to
respect others’ opinions.

There are reasons behind why I’m specifically interested in BDSM as
the topic of my work. Firstly, I was caught and shamed by my family
after they found the BDSM toys that I had hidden in my room in Korea.
Another time, while I was on a video call with my mother, she noticed
a toy behind me and became confused and angry. Secondly, I often
think about the negative comments and opinions that I have heard
from customers and other passersby while I was working in an adult
shop in Korea. It upset me to hear people who did not understand
BDSM speaking about it in such a negative way. Lastly, the
experiences that I had at a BDSM Bar in Korea with people in the
BDSM community was inspiring to me. Especially since it’s very rare
for Korean people to openly identify themselves as a part of the
community.

As a result of COVID-19, classes were online in the earlier part of that
semester so I was unable to physically build or 3D print. So I designed
prototypes of BDSM products that I have never seen anyone build.
When I moved back to Korea for a little over a year I bought my own
3D printer so I could design and create small models. I also decided to
work for my favorite Korean sex talk Youtube channel that was getting
ready to open their first adult shop in Seoul. I thought it would help me
with creating new ideas, seeing adult toys daily while working.

I have often wanted to invent something that has not been done
before. I’m not sure why but I have always had an interest in
convertible items especially in product design. After returning back to
New York for school, I decided to fabricate my own designs. When it
comes to BDSM products and furniture, most of them are black or
other dark colors. Utilizing the dark colors can make the pieces look
more menacing and even violent to people unfamiliar with the
practice. And when it comes to dark colors like black, these colors are
often associated with death, a sense of evil, despair, and so on.

Due to these reasons, I decided to design functional adult toys and
furniture in bright colors, because I do not view BDSM as an evil and
cruel practice, since it brings joy to people in the community. Most of
my pieces are designed in a way that they do not look like adult toys in
order to break the stigma that BDSM carries. The forms that these
toys take are meant to be cute and playful, so that they have positive
associations. It is important that some of the objects that I design can
be used in multiple ways. So, my process involves the realization of
prototypes, multiple 3D models, and the creation of convertible
furniture, such as a BDSM chair. The most important point of my art is
to be touched and not just seen.

Website: www.davidhjkim.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/dkim__art/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/david-kim-072520241/

Photo Model: Chris Cortez – www.instagram.com/mashgravity/

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

When I first came to college back in 2014, I started off as an
Advertising major at School of Visual Arts for the first two years. It was
not something I necessarily wanted to do the most but was a major
that could likely find a stable job much more likely compared to fine
arts. When I was in high school, I was told to do computer programs
like Adobe rather than just drawing, painting, and other hand work
from my art teacher in high school and other adults. The students and
I were told that our parents would be disappointed if we don’t make a
good living wage or have a secure job. Few years back at a family
gathering, I was asked by my uncle privately why I was doing art and
not just taking over my father’s company. I never even once thought
about it because I wasn’t interested nor did my father care.

Each semester, I was just more stressed with barely any sleep or no
sleep at all for days. I would just be on my laptop or school computer
for hours without a break. By the end of my sophomore year, I was so
tired and thought that if I took a year off and learned more, then I
would enjoy it without much struggle but oh boy I was so wrong. So I
studied more on Adobe programs while I took a break from school
when I was in Korea. My Korean was not great so I had a hard time
learning at an academy with like 20 other Korean people. So I decided
to get a 1 on 1 tutor to study. Even after months of learning, it felt
pressured so I had a talk and later I realized that I would like to
physically make things than just on a computer program.

After a lot of thinking, I decided to take another year off to learn to
make sculptures and play around with materials that I have not used
like silicone, resin, etc. When I started it, I really enjoyed it even
though I didn’t know much. And for the first time, I enjoyed learning a

computer program called “Rhinoceros” CAD program which is
software with a multitude of complex 3D modeling tools to build
designs / prototypes. It was harder than learning the Adobe program
but I enjoyed it so it was faster to learn and memorize. When it was
time to return back to New York for school, I decided to change my
major to fine arts to work on physical objects.

Due to changing majors, I had to retake sophomore year again.
However, I really enjoyed coming to school to work daily for the first
time. Something I never felt when I was doing artwork during my time
as an advertising major. I would come to school at 9am to work at the
sculpture room until 10pm which is when the woodworking space is
closed. Sometimes even after midnight if school machines or art
supplies are not needed due to having many of my own hand and
power tool equipment.

After graduating, I looked back at what I did starting from freshmen as
an advertising major and changing to fine art major was one of the
best choices I made during the time at school and where I am now.
Because of changing my major and COVID-19, I had to graduate four
years later than I was supposed to but if I had not changed my major, I
could imagine myself being miserable working at some advertising or
design company or freelance. One time to live so why not do what
makes you happy rather than just taking the safe opinion.

Website: www.davidhjkim.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/dkim__art/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-kim-072520241/

Image Credits
Chris Cortez