Explore a whole new kind of medicinal plant, compliments of Hee Sook Kim. Her plants aren’t so much ones to take to the stomach as they are meant for the mind and spirit to ingest. Hee Sook’s garden is at once soothing and complex, vegetation layered in unique color combinations and ambiguous text. This collection can be found in her current exhibit, “Spiritual Medicine.”

Hee Sook was born and raised in Korea, and made the move to the U.S. for graduate study in New York. She is now based in Haverford, Pennsylvania where she resides and teaches. Her work has been widely exhibited and published.

Much of Hee Sook’s work stems from her exposure to different cultures, especially from her own relocation. She takes from her background and surroundings to imbue her work with subtle yet thought-provoking elements. She challenges viewers to take time to ponder and form their own interpretations, to relate her work to their lives even.

When looking at Hee Sook’s work, I find myself wading in curiosity. Maybe it’s because I don’t know much about medicinal plants or eastern philosophy, but those factors aside, the work itself resonates a kind of nostalgia. You might recognize an image of a plant -- grandma’s favorite shrub or something you’ve seen while hiking. Then you’ll notice that lines of indiscernible text frame the central images. On top of this, the color washes and strokes that bathe the paintings are suggestive of a blurred memory.

The pairing of the familiar with the unfamiliar in Hee Sook’s work leads to the questioning of where the work comes from or what it could possibly refer to. At first I felt a little uneasy, not being quite sure how to interpret the pieces. But letting them soak in one at a time, I realized that they form an elegant language of their own. Though I don’t necessarily understand the language, I can identify its unique characteristics and appreciate it for exactly that. And pretty soon that language comes easy on the ears as well as the mind.

Here I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Hee Sook. I invite you to get to know her and to translate her art for yourself.

FAME.’US:  Did you always know you wanted to be an artist? How did you nurture that interest?
Hee Sook: I didn't know when I was young until my senior year in high school. I wanted to be a medical doctor, but somehow I was influenced by Cezanne and my art teacher.   

FAME.’US:   How was it transitioning from life in Korea to life in the U.S.?
Hee Sook: When I left Korea for graduate study in NYU, I thought I wouldn't go back to Korea. I didn't like the male-dominated society of Korea. Of course, it wasn't easy to survive here, but I always knew this was the place I wanted to do my work.

FAME.’US: Can you describe a little bit about your creative process for developing art?
Hee Sook: My work starts from a spiritual, intuitive, isolated place regardless of where I am. My studio becomes a shrine for my work. This "Spiritual Medicine" series was born in Taos in New Mexico when I had a
artist-in-residence program in Helene Wulitzer Foundation. The magical
atmosphere of Taos influenced me tremendously. Wild plants in praries and mountains entered into my work. Since then, New Mexico has been one of my inspirational places.

FAME.’US::   Where do you go or look for inspiration?
Hee Sook: Usually, nature is my place to go. Mostly I love to walk or hike.

FAME.’US:   What gave you the idea to create your exhibit, "Spiritual Medicine?"
Hee Sook: I explained above briefly. Also my grandmother's garden I saw when I was a little girl made me think to start this medicinal work. Please look at my statement on my website for more on this.

FAME.’US:   What do you wish to communicate to audiences with "Spiritual Medicine?"
Hee Sook: I want to share my experience as a female immigrant in the USA and my childhood memory in Korea. Please refer to my statement. Medicinal plants are the ingredients I use to share those experiences as viewers can see wherever they are. I pick plants wherever I travel and collect them to represent myself as an immigrant. I also want to deal with different cultures, using language in my work by adopting text in my pieces.

FAME.’US::   What are some of the most important things you've learned from your work?
Hee Sook: My work is myself and a history of mine.

FAME.’US:   What does the future hold for you?
Hee Sook: I will continue working with medicinal plants in different medium and explore different cultures. I don't know where I will reach to, but I will know when I am there.

To see a comprehensive gallery of Hee Sook‘s work and more in-depth information on the artist herself, please visit www.heesookkim.com