The Eyes of the Ocean Are Always Swollen
Directed by Ari Kim @arivibe
Assistant Director @whoruidku
Cinematographer @yoonihansso@justin.park.se
Editor @arivibe
Score Artist @_digatrip
Set Designer @freckledenemy
Art Assistant @abo_cad0@davidma_rt
Costume Designer @shadowx6669@whoruidku@arivibe
Movement Coordinator @davidma_rt
Performer @arivibe@taylen_jaylor@abo_cad0@whoruidku@anhkos@freckledenemy@wicked.kid
We do not go through one birth in life, we perhaps are continuously being born again by who we encounter or new enlightenment.
This film is a documentation of a struggle and the overcome of a woman has gone through, both as a daughter and a mother. We are still both healing from the bruises we made for each other; instead of covering the scars, we are facing them, so that they won’t become yellow cysts.
Thank you for everybody once again who was part of this film and my friends who supported me throughout and after, I dear all of you.
Full video available through vimeo (ask for password, would happy to share)
@independentshortsawards@cannesworldfilmfestival@berlin.shortfestival
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#film #theeyesoftheoceanarealwaysswollen #director #shortfilm #experimentalshort #cannesworldfilmfestival #independentshortawards #berlinshortfilmfestival
The Biggest Hand and the Smallest Tiger
Oil on wood, 매듭 Mae-Deup series
On a quiet afternoon, a child drifts into sleep, a small tiger nestled close. I imagined a hand—large, warm, and weathered—gently shielding them from the sun. This painting holds a fleeting moment of rest, trust, and quiet protection. A memory where warmth lingers, long after the light has shifted.
It’s just a beginning!
I want to express my deepest gratitude to Folana @folanadionemiller , whose mentorship and faith in my vision made it possible to share these works with the public. Your support has kept me steady through moments of doubt, reminding me how powerful vulnerability can be.
I also want to thank Jackson @jacksonawaters and Marina @marina_zeballos . I’ve always admired their talent, but our countless late nights—Jackson composing music that harmonized seamlessly with my paintings, Marina refining each detail—truly brought this show to life. It’s one thing to dream of an idea; it’s another to watch it flourish when others pour their artistry into it.
Thank you to Gabrielle @gjpoteet.studio and Richard for welcoming my work into Galerie Shibumi and transforming those late nights into moments of creative synergy. Every conversation and adjustment made this space feel custom-made for Mae-Deup.
Finally, to everyone here—whether we’ve known each other for years or just met—thank you for weaving yourselves into this Mae-Deup moment. Mae-Deup is about knots, the threads that tie us together. Reconnecting with old friends, meeting new ones, and seeing the way you embraced these works reminded me that we truly form bonds in the most unexpected ways.
From the bottom of my heart, I’m grateful for your presence, your curiosity, and your openness to the vulnerabilities on display. We’ve knotted a new thread tonight—one I hope continues to unravel into meaningful connections and memories. The show will be up until February 23rd, 2025, so please visit if you can!
Thank you Jonathan Hunt from The Dishh for your beautiful article covering MAE-DEUP. The show officially opens Thursday, January 16th from 7-9pm at 13 Market Street. 🔗🔗Article linked in our bio!! 🔗🔗
Ari Kim’s MAE-DEUP opens Thursday, January 16th at 7pm at 13 Market Street. The exhibition features original music by Jackson A. Waters and set design by Ari Kim and Marina Zeballos.
Ari Kim’s work is a mesmerizing exploration of In-Yeon (인연)—a Korean concept rooted in the belief that invisible threads of fate connect all living beings. These connections transcend time, space, and relationships, linking not only lovers and family but also friends, strangers, and fleeting encounters. Through her art, Ari Kim masterfully unveils these unseen bonds, offering viewers a poignant reflection on the intricacies of human connection. In “Mae-Deup (매듭)”, which translates to “knot,” Kim examines the profound ties between two figures who might be a young mother and daughter—or perhaps two versions of the same self. These works draw inspiration from the traditional Korean art of decorative knotting, symbolizing the bonds that tie us together. Ari’s figures are linked by braided hair, evoking an umbilical cord and referencing the Korean belief that hair, a sacred gift from ancestors, must be cherished and protected.
Mae Deup will feature original music by Jackson A. Waters, is an award-winning concert and film composer described as a ‘tour de force’ (Daniel Ott) and the next ‘Rising Star’ (VoyageLA). Writing for orchestras, chamber groups, and wind ensemble, Jackson’s widespread composition style has garnered recognition and performances from prestigious ensembles such as the Rhythm Method, The Colburn School, NYU Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra, Salastina, and more. Through his drive to push the boundaries of concert music, Jackson’s compositions have sparked international collaboration with artists including Czech jazz composer Beata Hlavenkova and the Prague-based string trio, S.V.A Trio, incorporating audio sampling and field recordings into his works. Beyond the realm of concert music, Jackson has scored music for numerous short and feature-length films, spanning genres from high-energy action films to intimate dramas.
Get to know painter and award-winning filmmaker Ari Kim @arivibe
Kim discusses her first solo show MAE-DEUP at @galerie.shibumi , her practice and inspiration. Link in our bio!
MAE-DEUP
Opening Reception: Thursday, January 16, 2025; 7-9pm
On View: January 17 - February 23, 2025
MAE-DEUP opens this Thursday, January 16, 2025; 7 - 9 PM featuring painter and award-winning filmmaker Ari Kim. The show also features original music by composer Jackson A. Waters and set design by Marina Zeballos.
In the words of Kim about why she chose Galerie Shibumi:
Exhibiting at Galerie Shibumi is particularly meaningful because of its intimate, thoughtfully curated space—an ideal setting for Mae-Deup’s themes. The integration of music and visual art adds a unique sensory dimension that I hope will set this exhibition apart. Unlike a bustling Chelsea gallery where viewers might stroll in during a casual gallery hop, Galerie Shibumi demands either serendipity or a conscious choice to visit. In that sense, encountering the show becomes a more personal and intentional act. Only those who stumble upon it by chance or decide it’s worth seeking out are introduced to these intimate, vulnerable works, making the experience both profound and rare.
Please join us for a very special opening! The works will be on view January 17 - February 23, 2025.
Mae Deup, 매듭.
Been working on this project over a year, not knowing if this will ever reach the eye of the public. Super excited to share through @galerie.shibumi
Always grateful and thank you for the opportunity, @folanadionemiller !
Galerie Shibumi
13 Market St, NYC
Opening on Jan 16th, Thursday, 2025, 7pm-9pm.
On View from Jan 17th - Feb 23, please come by anytime at your easiest convenience to see and experience the works by @jacksonawaters , @zeballos.marina and me.
#opening #nycgallery #artist #nyartist #painter #exhibition #nycexhibition
Invisible threads of fate weave through all living beings, connecting us in ways both seen and unseen, across lifetimes and moments. My work explores this intricate web of connections known as “In-Yeon (인연),” a concept deeply rooted in the idea of fate or providence. In-Yeon speaks to the invisible lines and knots that bind all living creatures, transcending time and space. These connections are not limited to lovers or family; they extend to friends, strangers, and even fleeting encounters on a subway.
My current series, “Mae-Deup (매듭),” delves into the profound connection between two figures who could be a young mother and daughter or perhaps a larger self and its younger counterpart. “Mae-Deup (매듭),” which translates to “knot” in English, refers to the traditional Korean art of decorative knotting, symbolizing the bonds or connections that tie us together. In these works, the figures’ braided hair, reminiscent of an umbilical cord, emphasizes this connection. Historically in Korea, hair was considered a sacred gift from ancestors, to be cherished and protected—adding layers of meaning to the imagery of hair as a navel string.
The figures in my paintings engage in acts of service, quietly expressing love through small, tender gestures. Whether it’s napping on a loved one’s knees, creating a shadow to shield them from the sun, or gently plucking white hairs with care, these moments replace direct words of affection. Through my art, I seek to unveil forgotten memories, subtly capturing moments that once existed. I refer to these moments as “creases”—the gentle folds of time that bear witness to past gestures.
When light touches these creases, it casts a shadow, revealing the trace of what once was. This shadow, this delicate interplay of light and memory, forms the essence of my work. Each piece is an exploration of the enduring and often unseen connections that shape our lives, a visual narrative of the bonds that weave us together across lifetimes.
Thank you Folana for the beautiful studio photos!💓🥹
@galerie.shibumi
Beautiful Shirt Hand Drawn by @iamsio
More exciting work upcoming soon🏃🏻♀️➡️
#studio #painter
