What began as a desire to take better photographs of items he was selling on his Ebay storefront has turned into something that has overtaken photographer Young Kim’s life, he says.
“I have always loved a good story, and I think photography is the perfect medium to be able to experiment in telling one,” Kim said. “Stringing together different pictures in new ways gives me the opportunity to have fun, and play an active role in forming a narrative.”
Kim will be showing work from his collection, “What Good is Fruit that is not Sweet?” at the International Gallery of Contemporary Art in Anchorage for First Friday, on July 5, from 5-8 p.m. The project documents Kim’s relationship with his mother as she ages.
“Social media has made connecting with people outside of the state so easy,” Kim said. “It is amazing being able to see and interact with other artists, and be part of a conversation that couldn’t have happened otherwise.”
In 2023, Kim was selected along with 35 other Alaska artists as an Individual Artist Awardee to fund a photography project with his mom, highlighting identity and reverse diaspora. He recently traveled to South Korea with his mother — who had not been back home in more than two decades — as part of plans for a photography collection funded by Rasmuson Foundation.
“It explores our relationship as parent and child and how roles shift as time persists,” Kim said. “These circumstances also pose the questions of whether we can quantify or qualify how good a person is at fulfilling a societal role and whether the romanticization of the “American Dream” can influence those parameters.”
In addition to “What Good is Fruit that is not Sweet?” Kim says he will also be sharing some work from his recent trip to South Korea with his mom.
There will be an artist talk on July 25 at 6:30 featuring Kim speaking about his work.
“I feel Anchorage and Alaska have always had a great arts community — it makes growing as an artist here not just fulfilling, but also fun,” Kim said.
“What Good is Fruit that is not Sweet?” will be on display at IGCA Alaska through July 26.
Sam Davenport is a writer residing in Anchorage. She's a leo and a plant-person, and loves spending quality time with her dog, Aspen. She is a Real Housewives fan and has been called a Bravo historian.