A GLIMPSE INTO THE BEAUTIFUL AND BIZARRE: GATA MEETS MIKI KIM

GATA had the opportunity to step into the mesmerizing world of Miki Kim, a South Korean tattoo artist and illustrator who's pushing the boundaries of art and tattooing as we know it.

With collaborations under her belt with heavy hitters such as Gucci and Marine Serre, Miki's trippy and surreal style transports viewers to psychedelic realms that challenge the norms of modern society.

Drawing inspiration from her personal experiences and a deep fascination with humanity's relationship with technology, Miki's creations effortlessly blend Eastern and Western art influences in a way that is both innovative and captivating.

Reminiscent of artistic legends such as Hajime Sorayama, Shintaro Kago, and Satoshi Kon, her striking use of colour and bold lines create a retro-futuristic aesthetic that is entirely her own.

The most impressive part? Miki is entirely self-taught, her love for Japanese culture, cartoons, and '80s and '90s films driving her to become a force to be reckoned with in the art world.

Hi Miki, Can you please introduce yourself to the GATA readers?

Hello, I’m Miki Kim from South Korea, Seoul; I’m a tattoo artist and illustrator.

You’re known as a wonderfully talented tattoo artist and illustrator. What led you to the path of tattoos and art?

(Laughs) That's a long story! Since I was very young, I liked watching TV, watching anime and collecting monthly comic/manga magazines. My dream was to be a cartoonist, but I wasn’t a very good storyteller. I was a very shy kid– I mostly enjoyed drawing alone, I had a book that I carried with me everywhere, every day and I had the most fun when I was by myself imagining these worlds.

I wanted to learn how to paint professionally, but when I was a kid my family had issues with money so I wasn’t really able to dream. I wanted to draw, but I didn’t know how to justify my dream if it couldn’t support me monetarily. A friend of a friend was a tattoo artist and introduced it to me, I felt from that path I could do what I love while being able to support myself, and so began my career in tattooing.

Your tattoo designs often incorporate traditional Asian art and folklore. How does your identity as a Korean artist influence the themes and messages in your work?

There is this concept that Korea is a nation of sorrow, I think that subconsciously I practise this concept in my art. I really like traditional Korean aspects; traditional art is thin, straight and has strong qualities. Mostly, however, I like Korean temples, have you ever seen them? They're more psychedelic, they have so many colours, and the architecture is very strong. These colours and shapes, this beauty, really inspires me.

Your tattoos are known for their intricate details and bold use of colour. How do you balance artistic expression with the practicalities of tattooing skin?

These days I don’t draw designs specifically for tattoos, but obviously a big difference can be felt when drawing on my iPad, on paper and on skin. It’s really exciting for me to see the difference between how each piece will appear on different types of skin, specifically colours. If you use a colour like bold red it really varies between skin tones how the final tattoo will appear, so you really have to see what works.

You’re very outspoken about the tension when it comes to tattooing in South Korea and you’ve previously said that you have had to go to the police for your practices. What kept you motivated despite the hurdles? (What are the precautions you need to take in order to not get reported?)

Around seven or eight years ago, I was sent to the police station so many times. I think at that time someone was specifically reporting me (laughs.) It never happened during the actual tattoo sessions but it was super discouraging, I felt like I didn’t want to do anything, I even tried to stop tattooing in Korea altogether. But my friends cheered me on “ Just keep doing your work!!” So I kept going.

You've been known to incorporate elements of pop culture, like film references and manga, into your tattoos. What are your favourite inspirations?

I love things by Son Katoshi! I also watch a lot of movies, mainly Japanese cinema from the 1960s- 80s. Suzuki Seijin is one of my favourite directors, his movies are so cool. Another good movie is Blind Beast, I recommend this movie to everyone, it's a really nice Japanese film.

We also love movies at Gata! Do you think there’s any film that you feel has inspired your work the most?

My top three are as I just mentioned, Masumura Yasuzo’s Blind Beast in third place, Second would be Kon Satoshi’s Perfect Blue and first place would be Slamdunk. I recently watched it and it made me cry (laughs) it was so fun to watch, the story has so much feeling, and it's made more like an actual movie than just an anime. There are so many steps in it.

How about Korean cinema?

Like anything by Park Chan-wook, The Handmaiden is my most favourite though.

Who would be your dream collaborator or client, anyone you’d like, dead or alive?

Supreme. Wait actually..Bjork, I love her

What do you like most about your art and practice? What makes you feel alive?

(laughs) What do you mean? I’m just a normal person. When I imagine things in my mind and I'm going to draw them, when the image comes out exactly as I imagined it makes me really happy.

You opened up in a previous interview and mentioned that you struggle with anxiety. What are some important rituals or tips to stay grounded, in your daily life as an artist both in tattoo and illustration?

I actually have panic disorder, it happens suddenly, and sometimes I hyperventilate. In my mind I have to tell myself “I’m fine, I’m fine.” or I go for a walk on my own, like a stroll in nature, that really helps.

What’s next for Miki Kim? (any projects, next destination, sneap peeks)

I don't know yet, but I have some small exhibitions in Nagoya and Osaka soon. My dream is to actually become more popular with my DJ work. I collect Vinyl so I really want to do more with that. I’ve DJ’d a few times at a small bar in Nagoya.

What kind of music?

I like the music of all genres, but I mainly collect old music, specifically from the ’70s 80s periods in Japan and Korea. Besides that, I collect psychedelic rock, disco, boogie, drum and bass, 90s house, electronic music and African music.