S. Korean Artists Chaewon Oh and Kim Hankyoo’s work stayed with me long after I watched the interview Ron Shelton sent. What struck me first was not only the artwork itself but the genuine respect they seem to hold for one another’s individual practices and for the collaborative work that emerges between them—work that clearly could not exist without both voices participating equally.
Their conversation reveals an understanding that collaboration is not about compromise so much as attentiveness. Each artist appears to leave space for the other’s sensibility, allowing the work to develop through exchange rather than control. That openness is visible in the tactile quality of the stitched surfaces, the playful shifts in composition, and the relationship among mark, color field, and material.
The stitching itself feels important—not simply as technique, but as evidence of time, touch, and repeated gesture. The works carry a physical intimacy. They invite viewers to slow down and notice small variations, subtle decisions, and the human presence embedded within the surface.
I was also drawn to the sense of play that runs through the work. Despite the labor involved, there is a lightness and curiosity in the compositions, as though discovery remains central to the process. Shapes move or are affixed across fields of color, and marks seem to respond to one another—sometimes conversationally, sometimes independently. The work feels improvised in the best sense: open, exploratory, and alive.
True collaboration cannot be proven by the outcome alone. Authenticity is built through every moment of shared conception, discussion, and the gentle overlap of each other’s hands. Conflicts and disagreements may arise, yet it is the sincerity with which one endures and engages in that process that gives true meaning to collaboration. artist: Chaewon Oh and Kim Hankyoo
What I found especially moving was their shared understanding that making art is, in itself, meaningful. The interview never suggested an anxiety about outcome, status, or spectacle. Instead, the emphasis remained on experience—on living through the act of making and sharing that experience with others through the finished work.
That may be why the collaboration feels so generous. The works are not only objects to be viewed; they communicate a way of being attentive to process, material, and to another person. In a culture increasingly driven by speed and self-promotion, Chaewon Oh and Kim Hankyoo offer something quieter and perhaps more enduring: an example of artistic practice grounded in mutual respect, curiosity, and shared discovery. They are truly kindred spirits.
HAF: How and when did you first meet Kim Hankyoo?
Chae: I think I first met artist Kim Hankyoo about six years ago. At the time, we were connected through Facebook, and I visited his solo exhibitions after hearing about them. I had already been deeply drawn to his artwork, and I also greatly admired the passion and dedication he continuously showed toward his artistic practice.
HAF: When did you first see similarity in your works?
Chae: To be honest, I didn’t initially think there were many similarities between Kim Hankyoo’s work and my own. However, I was deeply drawn to the vivid colors and the graphic beauty of his forms. In fact, I think our work had more differences than similarities. His work focused strongly on color and form, with a more structured, composed visual language, while my work leaned toward distorted figures and conceptual ideas.
HAF: When did you decide to collaborate?
Chae: After seeing many of Kim Hankyoo’s works on Facebook and visiting his exhibitions whenever he had one, I naturally began to think that it would be interesting to work together someday. I was very fascinated by his work and became curious about what kinds of results could emerge from combining our very different artistic styles in a collaboration. About three years ago, I suggested we collaborate, and Kim Hankyoo gladly agreed.
HAF: How many collaborative exhibitions have you had together?
Chae: We began collaborating about three years ago, and since then we have held two joint exhibitions. The exhibitions took place in 2023 and 2025. Additionally, we also presented our collaborative works in several group exhibitions, about three times.
Carol Heft is a New York City-based artist and educator. She is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, and her work has been exhibited internationally. She teaches Drawing, Painting, and Art History at several colleges in New York and Pennsylvania, and is represented by the Blue Mountain Gallery in New York City
