Kim Kyungah

Kyungah Kim was born on 8 July 1968 in Seoul. Her life took an unexpected turn at the age of just three months, when sudden seizures and high fever changed its course. The diagnosis of cerebral palsy led to muscle stiffness and a loss of motor function. At the age of eleven, she came into contact with painting by chance. During her two-year stay in hospital, the images she gradually painted with her left foot opened up a new world for her. After her discharge, however, she stayed away from painting for a period of time. When she heard in 1996 that art classes were being offered at a social centre, she finally wanted to start painting again. As Kyungah Kim had always cherished the wish to attend school, she became a mature student from 2000 onwards. She passed the primary, middle and secondary school examinations one after the other, thus opening the way to her dream of university studies. In 2005, she began studying Oriental Studies and received her diploma in 2009. Her accumulated skills and experience flowed into her artworks. Although she has difficulty moving her upper body and requires assistance with eating and personal matters, when she sits in her wheelchair in front of a canvas and holds a brush with her left foot, her passion for art is still tangible.