Seongmin Kim

Bio

Seongmin Kim is a London-based artist who has been living and working since 2017. She graduated from Central Saint Martins with a BA(Hons) in Jewellery Design and gained experience in various areas of fashion jewellery before completing her degree.

Her graduate collection, Motherly Love, naturally guided her towards becoming a contemporary jewellery artist, where she discovered her passion for hands-on craftsmanship, allowing each piece to embody a personal and artistic touch. With a deep love for natural materials like pearls and mother-of-pearl, she strives to create timeless pieces that reflect her artistic vision and capture subtle emotions. Working alongside jewellery artists Lin Cheng and Melanie Georgacopoulos further enriched her understanding of specific techniques and inspired her creative journey in contemporary jewellery world.

From January to the end of February 2024, Seong showcased her new pearl collection at the Goldsmiths Centre exhibition and aims to expand her range of designs and gain recognition through additional exhibitions and offline activities to reach a broader audience. She hopes to share her growth and journey as an artist through pieces that offer unique and symbolic expression.

Statement

The ‘Motherly Love’ collection, inspired by the creation of pearls, illustrates the contradictory concept of parasite harmony. When an irritant enters an oyster’s shell, the organism covers it with nacre, known as mother-of-pearl, to protect itself from the intruder.

Through the collection, Seongmin explores this symbiosis and draws a connection with the relationship of a mother and child. The carefully handcrafted pieces illustrate the notion of a protective and never-ending embrace through the interlocking and overlapping arrangement of pearl and shell. 
Seongmin Kim’s artistic practice centers on using unique, natural, and rare materials to create distinctive jewelry. She is particularly interested in sustainable, recycled, and upcycled materials, crafting them by hand to bring new value and make life more special and meaningful.

Experimenting with natural materials that transform their original forms through her own designs using hand-carving techniques deeply motivates her. She is especially focused on developing skills in wax carving, as well as stone and pearl carving, with the aim of creating wearable objects that inspire and bring a touch of joy to the wearer’s life.