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ESTHER DOË KIM
Esther Kim (b. 1995, South Korea), known as DOË, is a Korean-Canadian artist based in Toronto and a graduate of OCAD University. Born in South Korea and having lived in Vancouver, she now thrives in Toronto, where her artistic journey continues to evolve.
Kim's work delves into the tension between excitement and fear, using words like trepidation, frisson, and ambivalence to express these dualities. Her paintings reflect the universal human experiences of anxiety, fear, and worry. By depicting crocodile balloons peacefully floating in a swimming pool, she cleverly transforms typically menacing creatures into symbols of illusory fears, emphasizing their fragile and transient nature akin to balloons that can burst at any moment.
Her flower balloon series addresses themes of birth and death, celebrating new beginnings and accepting the inevitable end of life. Through this, Kim encourages viewers to appreciate fleeting moments and cherish life's ephemeral beauty.
Ultimately, Kim's art conveys that all experiences, whether fear or joy, are transient, much like balloons that burst after a celebration, urging us to embrace and celebrate every moment before it passes.
