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Parsons MFA Design&Tech

Kieun Kim

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Revealuxion

Restore Myself

  • performative
  • wearable
  • wellness-access
  • FACULTY
    Thesis Studio

    Anthony J. Deen

    Sabine Seymour

    Writing and Research

    Andrew Zornoza

    Edward C. Jefferson

    My thesis project is a personal artistic form for performance and an experimental interactive wearable garment connected to my brainwaves. The concept concentrates on self-esteem, self-portrait, aesthetic emotions, and human connection. I express my internal feelings and emotions in front of audiences through the garment, which means to reveal my true self instead of myself sealing, faking or hiding behind the technology. Ultimately, I aim to find ways to reach healing moments with spectators through empathetic engagement.

  • Project website

  • My thesis project, which is called Revealuxion, is a personal artistic form for performance, using brainwaves, LED lights, and finger movements. The title came from two words, Reveal and Lux. I combine them because I want to reveal myself through the intensity of illumination. I set up a Mindflex and 6LED Strips as a mental rationale and finger motions as a physical rationale. I use the attention value of brainwaves and when I focus on myself then LEDs light on fully and if not, the function will light off. In the function of finger movements, if my fingers pull down the strings, the parts at the other ends get lifted up. Ultimately, I can visualize struggling with myself in a second body.

    I design an architectural shapes inspired by cocoon and marionette. A butterfly struggles for its independence. A marionette is normally controlled by human’s fingers. However, I will perform voluntary appearance by my fingers in a cocoon.

    The concept concentrates on self-portrait, self-esteem, and human connection. It is an attempt to explore ontological self and aesthetic emotions through performance. I express my internal feelings and emotions in front of audiences through the garment, which means to reveal my true self instead of myself sealing, faking or hiding behind the technology. Ultimately, I aim to find ways to reach healing moments with spectators through empathetic engagement.

    Where are my emotions coming from? What is the meaning of healing moments?

    I often feel I have deaf disability or speech disorder if someone makes me feel nervous or keep pressing me for an answer or into a decision in a minute. All kinds of emotions inherent in my mind come from my olden experiences. This is a sort of symptoms such as my childhood trauma. Social shaming and social bullying was the common issue in my childhood. Most people pointed out to me I was not a smart and logical person when I presented or explained something. At some point, I became speechless with uncomfortable situation in front of people. Eventually, I lose confidence by psychological abuse and this develops my ugly personalities and forms my curved appearance. However, at the same time, when I stand at the bottom of line, I am encouraged the strength of feelings from my weakness. I show my vulnerable side but it becomes my invisible potential energy. In that, ironically, I have no fear expressing or sharing true emotions and feelings with others. This is an effective way that I boost my self-esteem. I interpret this process from psychological aspect; Someone might advise me not to show my vulnerability in human relationship because people normally ignore, show off or feel better if a person who looks weak or does not have a sense of confidence. I want to ensure that it is not only the reason that the person has the linguistic problem. It is inherent in human nature. As I indicate my weakness, people might not have any expectation. Simultaneously, I get comfortable feelings with myself and it gives me feel a sense of exhilaration and healing moment. This is a kind of my circle of life.

    Through this project, could I really convey and share my emotions and feelings with audiences…? Could I discover myself and find my true self and really get confident mind? Could my brainwaves turn on the lights in front of people?

    I will do my best for my own time even though the movements look stupid or unstable… I will show my steps…


    Kieun Kim

    Kieun is a creative artist and performer. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Art education at Kyunghee University in South Korea. After graduating, she worked as a graphic designer and illustrator. Currently, she is enrolled in the MFA Design and Technology program at Parsons The New School For Design. Her main research interests are in the fields of interactive art, physical computing, soft circuit and wearable technology. Kieun believes her art is expressed in everything she touches. As her portfolio illustrates, her passion for art is interdisciplinary and expressed across diverse mediums.

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