Yula Kim’s youth can be characterized by an assortment of adventures, including residencies spanning South Korea, China, Hawaii, Uganda, and the United Kingdom. Derived from rich hues of cultural diversity, her works navigate the interplay between perception and reality, all the while rekindling an intimate connection with the natural world.

Utilizing a mixture of avian-inspired paints and pigments, Yula beautifully intermingles vibrant expressions of flora and fauna with a textured patchwork of artificial objects and human intervention. Indeed, her blended brushstrokes interconnect colors and shapes in a dynamic convergence, once again reminding us to reflect upon our perceptions of Mother Earth, and Her reciprocal impact on our lives.

Yula honors nature as a profound source of solace, inspiration, and wonder, as well as a catalyst for creativity and innovation. Aesthetically stunning, her bird motifs soar through cloudbursts and navigate intercontinentally across the canvas as if to question our place within the larger tapestry of existence. Not only do they celebrate individuality, but they also spread the wings of solidarity and harmonize the humanistic, environmental, and socio-cultural ties upon which all living things depend.

Exhibited at the Platinum Jubilee and now part of the Royal College of Art’s permanent collection, Yula’s “Life of the Secretary Bird” series captures the power, authority, and sheer ecological significance of the eagle. As tenacious rulers of the skies, these gilded creatures evoke the strength of bygone dynasties, at the same time mirroring Yula’s determined quest for meaning and enduring nomadic drive.

SECRETARY BIRD AND MAGPIES (2020). INK AND GOLD FLAKE ON HANJI. 40 X 30CM.

MATURE FEMALE EAGLE AND THE GOLDEN SUN (2020). INK AND GOLD FLAKE ON HANJI. 45 X 30CM.

THE DIGNITY (2023). NATURAL PIGMENT AND ACRYLIC ON CANVAS. 140 X 120CM.

WHERE I AM NOW (2023). NATURAL PIGMENT AND ACRYLIC ON CANVAS. 130 X 86CM.

Discover more of Yula’s works in Issue 4 of our magazine!