A quick summary
Born in Buyeo, South Korea
Daughter of an Apiarist father and artistic mother
Aspired to become a pianist until her senior year in high school
Chosen among 15 individuals from all around the world to participate in a study program in Switzerland, led by design luminaries such as Armin Hofmann, Wolfgang Weingart, Paul Rand, Phillip Burton, and Pierre Mendell.
First illustration project was commissioned by Luke Hayman (one of the partners from Pentagram) for the cover of Travel and Leisure magazine.
Sunjin takes a sabbatical every three to five years to explore her other creative interests. In 2013, she used her first sabbatical to focus on drawing.
Sunjin's second sabbatical in 2017 paid homage to traditional Korean textiles and crafts. Her visual research and exploration led her to create the brand MOHM. The work from the first collection was displayed alongside master artisans from South Korea at the Milan Design Week in 2019, in an exhibition organized by the Korean Ministry of Culture. Additionally, part of the collection was featured twice in the main exhibition hall during the Craft Trend Fair, which was curated by renowned artistic directors Jung Kuho in 2018 and Kang Sinjae in 2020.
During Sunjin’s third sabbatical in 2017, she managed the construction of a Hanok, a traditional Korean architecture. The building had to meet strict requirements from the city of Buyeo, which was the capital of the Baekje dynasty from 538 to 660 AD.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic in 2020, Sunjin decided to use her illustration skills to raise awareness about social issues through her social media account, Humble Beings.
Sunjin is currently working on a book of elements and limited edition products ranging from textiles to objects, and prints.
Humble Beings is a platform for Sunjin Kim to express and share her interests in diverse topics ranging from general etiquette, Korean folklore, climate change, and foremost, the practice of becoming a better human, something she is constantly striving to achieve for herself.
Through her daily form-making practice, Sunjin hopes to not only reconnect with her inner child and foster imagination and creativity, but also to bring a sense of joy and optimism to those who encounter her work. By sharing her playful and whimsical creations with the world, she aspires to inspire others to embrace their own creativity and find beauty and delight in the simple things in life.
