k-art in auckland
What first brought you to Auckland, and what were your first impressions of the city?
My parents and I immigrated to Aotearoa/New Zealand in 2001 with the hopes of a new start. In fact, my mum always wanted to move to a new country. This was pre-internet early 2000’s and they were not fluent in English so information sharing and community were really important at the time. This is why they chose to be based on the North Shore in Tāmaki Makaurau/ Auckland, as that is where the largest Korean community is. I have since moved closer to the city and really enjoy where I am based.
I remember being really confused at school. I had separation anxiety to the point where my mum had to run away and leave me in the hands of my teachers while I screamed my lungs out. This was the downfall of being an only child who was not yet socialized, and being in a new country and a daunting environment so young made it worse. On a brighter note, I picked up the language quickly, and within six months I was translating for my parents, which is actually wild to think about.
The beaches were my favourite spots, as well as the playgrounds. In fact, my mum summed it up perfectly when she said I was a child who loved nature, touching grass, swimming, dancing and singing. Nothing much has changed!
* Te reo (Maori) words are used here to denote the names of the country and city.
How would you describe the creative energy or art scene in Auckland?
I love Auckland city, where art is real, authentic and thriving. There is always something going on. I try my best to attend events and support my friends and colleagues. Whether dance, music, theatre, exhibitions, fashion, drag, open mics, or comedy, there are so many amazing safe spaces created by individuals and communities!
I was in South Korea last year for six months for a residency and kept extending my stay. I saw a lot of diverse art from various artists, and I was really impressed with their quality in materials and output. However, I think the individuality and authenticity that artists from Aotearoa bring is unmatched. As much as this sounds cliche, Auckland is the kind of city where you can make anything happen. With so many opportunities, even on a small scale, it is the best testing ground for any artist.
It is just unfortunate that we are living in such tumultuous times where the cost of living has risen so much that it is hard to make it work as an artist in New Zealand without having multiple side hustles. While everyone seems to be leaving this place in search of better pastures, I believe that being here has its joys and things can definitely improve.
Have you collaborated with local artists, institutions, or communities?
I have collaborated with multiple artists, who are also my dear friends!
For my debut production ‘Iron Eyes’ in 2018, I thought about the research I did before for my honours in Dance Studies, and how I was interested in the audience’s perspective and who holds the power and agency in a theatre space?
Iron Eyes was an audience-interactive performance exploring the narratives of navigating the inherited trauma of the Korean War and the tension between North and South. Throughout the performance, audiences were invited to dance with us, crack eggs, read racist jokes aloud, laugh, cry, and experience confusing moments that blurred the boundaries of power and participation. They were both witnesses and active participants in the world we created together.
In 2019 I decided to produce a mini festival with my friends called ‘Garden of Celebration’ at Raynham Park, Karangahape Road in Auckland. A one-day multidimensional art show with 15+ artists combined multiple art forms, including an exhibition, live performances, poetry, dance, and film. Though we all got sick afterwards and the burn out was ongoing, we made it happen! Those I organized the event with are still my close friends and we reminisce about those times often.
As an early career artist I was daring and ambitious. I have grown so much since then, and these projects served as a great foundation.
Has the city changed your artistic practice in any way?
I am so inspired by what other makers and artists create in New Zealand. The community mindset is huge and there is a lot of aroha (love) and manaakitanga (hospitality/kindness) to go around. I feel supported enough to be more daring and to keep trying new things.
Auckland is not a cheap city to live in and we all hustle really hard. Sourcing materials or resources is never easy as we are at the bottom of the world. I really respect how hard everyone works and how we find time to support one another.
In what ways do your Korean roots continue to shape your work while living abroad?
I cannot help but talk about my Korean heritage and being diasporic in my work. It is really meaningful and nostalgic when I get to add parts of this heritage to the titles of my work or to the thematic elements. But I am not just an ‘Asian artist,’ I am an artist who happens to have their narratives folded into their work. The more I learn about Korea or my family, the more I want to add this into my work because it is inspiring. There are not many opportunities to speak Korean fluently with people, so I usually watch Korean sitcoms or dramas while cooking Korean soups and other dishes.
Is there a visible or active Korean art/creative community in Auckland?
I am always looking for ways to collaborate with other Korean creatives. There are plenty of them here and my friend Steven Junil Park and I have been talking about creating a Korean artist hui (gathering) since last year.
I have a couple of close Korean friends who are also gyopo like me. We speak English as the main dish and use Korean words as side dishes. But in general, I am not a part of the Korean community here as sometimes I feel misunderstood by them. I am also one of the only active Korean contemporary dance choreographers in the scene in Auckland, so they are not really in my circles.
Have you observed any interest or reception toward Korean art in your city?
The rise in K-culture is huge, like a cultural whiplash I am still getting used to. I am in the process of making a performance about this, as I grew up in a place where people did not even know where Korea was. Nowadays, people fawn over the fact that I am Korean and they know more about the culture than I do. Why do you suddenly love my culture, when you hated it 14 years ago? It is odd but also fun to see so many people going to Korean restaurants and learning Kpop dances.
If you had to describe Auckland as a creative “material,” what would it be and why?
Auckland as a creative material would be like a retro, cute, and punk laptop from 2010, it has been around the block. It needs a software update though and can be incredibly slow. You can play all the retro games on it, there is a cool camcorder function and you can still edit a video that feels like a masterpiece and full of quirks that make you smile. It is not back ‘in’ enough to be cool, but give it another ten years and a bit of artistic investment, and it might just be the next VHS camera.
Where in the city do you go when you need to recharge creatively?
I go to the beach. I need to feel the water around me. It is like a spiritual home, a place where I feel grounded and tapped into a childlike joy.
There are not many “nice” beaches nearby and I say this with full beach-snob energy. Growing up in New Zealand, you are spoiled with beaches that look like postcard noraebang/karaoke backdrops; the scenery is so unreal you sometimes question if you are even real.
The closest beach I like to swim at is a 20-minute drive to East Auckland. That is not far by global standards, but since I used to live just 10 minutes away, I always wish I had gone more often, when I lived closer. It is funny how you only realize how amazing a place is once you have moved away.
Beach snob, yes, but grateful for it.
If a K-Artist were to visit Auckland for a month, what would you recommend they do, see, or experience?
I do not go out that much in Auckland, but when I do, you will usually catch me in three places: Dominion Road, Karangahape Road or Basement Theatre. Here is my Auckland in a weekend itinerary.
Day 1: Grab a great coffee at one of the many great spots before walking up Maungawhau (Mount Eden) for the beautiful views. Hit up a gallery or two: Auckland Art Gallery, Artspace Aotearoa, Object Space, RM Gallery, Studio Toi Tu, Gus Fisher… the list goes on. Then, visit Samoa House Library to browse the cool books and say hi to local artists. You can visit some of the op shops/second hand shops, my favorite of which are in Wairau Valley! There is an amazing French bakery on Dominion Road so treat yourself to some baked goods, and eat thick, hand-pulled noodles and get bubble tea if you fancy. At night, catch a show by an independent artist at Basement Theatre.
Day 2: Go for a bush walk out west to one of the stunning beaches at Muriwai, Bethells or Piha. Then catch a movie at Academy Cinemas where the seats are uncomfortable, but the films are diverse and the tickets are cheap. Check out other local music, dance, or theatre events and have a dance at Karangahape Road, including gigs at Whammy Bar, Beck of the Woods, and a cheeky smoke by the steps at Myers Park.
Also note that New Zealand has some of the most breathtaking scenery and a lot of the wild beauty can be found outside of the city.
What are you currently working on?
I can proudly say that I am almost booked out for 2026, a year that is already looking so bountiful. I have also been pushing myself to try new experiences, recently modeling for an independent fashion show and trying my hand at open mic, pole dancing, ice skating, and improvised performance art. I have to keep doing it for the plot.
I will visit Shanghai to hangout with my mentors Xiaoke and Zihan as well as going to a large dance festival called Impulstanz in Vienna.
I am also really excited to be developing a new choreographic work that explores my cultural whiplash regarding the rise of K-culture and its impact on me as a young Korean female.
How do you imagine your relationship with Auckland evolving over time?
As a person for whom home has always shifted and people have come and gone, I have a love-hate relationship with this place. I always thought I was going to leave Auckland, but I am really glad I stayed. My ties here are strong and even if I end up going away, I will keep coming back to my forever home!
