Meet Kai Oh | Visual Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kai Oh and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kai, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
The new series Unpleasant Episodes, presented in the exhibition Will You Marry Me?, stems from my personal experiences. I wanted to address the unpleasant incidents I have encountered as a woman, spanning from public interactions to deeply personal romantic relationships.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I pursued this path because I genuinely enjoy creating and engaging with visual imagery. Of course, the inherent instability of employment in the arts presents certain challenges, but I believe that creativity also plays a role in navigating one’s own path, and I’ve come to embrace this aspect of my practice. Like many freelancers, I’ve found that increased autonomy requires a deeper exploration of discipline, and this ongoing pursuit is something I am truly grateful for.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in New York. At first, I didn’t feel particularly drawn to the city, but over time, its charm has grown on me. I’d love to show my neighborhood, Cobble Hill, and the area around my studio in Greenpoint. Cobble Hill has a history of Italian immigrants settling there, while Greenpoint has long been home to a Polish community. I find it special that you can experience each neighborhood’s authentic cuisine and culture firsthand. I’d also take someone to Central Park and Prospect Park to highlight how these two largest parks in the city each have their own unique character.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Although I haven’t been in New York for long, I feel incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by a supportive and inspiring community. I would like to extend my gratitude to Jaejoon Jang of Subtitled NYC, who collaborated with me on this exhibition, and Howon Kim, who wrote the exhibition text. I am also deeply appreciative of Jungmin Cho, with whom I exchanged in-depth conversations about our work throughout the exhibition process. Additionally, I am grateful to Phil Cai, Jean Oh, Soeun Bae, Steven Abraham, Lisa Young, Lili Toth, Rain Lu, Audrey Min, and many other colleagues who visited my studio and engaged in meaningful discussions about my practice.

Website: https://cargocollective.com/kaioh

Instagram: @kai.drinks.water

Image Credits
Garrett Carroll