Adoring the many illustrations of Miki Kim is like taking a Hyperloop through the best of Japanese art history. Pulling from 17th century Kabuki (song, dance, and skill) theatre, retro round eyed anime à la Attack No. 1, vintage European vogue cover drawings, and a dash of timeless pop culture, Kim makes surrealistic static stories that demand a flex of humour’s muscle or a moment’s contemplation.
This surrealistic style unifies her many techniques grounding them in some un-local reality that reflects the things we love about dreams. The ear, the eye, the sea and flowers also reiterate in new and unique ways.
Kims’ use of mixed references are what make her symbolic narratives so compelling, to see allusions to contemporary manga art juxtaposed against a Ukiyo-e print styled beauty depicted as a praying mantis, holds the same kind of charming mystery as visiting a rare and wonderful attraction would.
