South Korean conceptual artist Kimsooja was promoted to Officer of the French Order of Arts and Letters, receiving the honor at the French ambassador’s residence in Seoul.
The promotion to Officer represents the second-highest rank in France’s three-tier cultural honor system. The Order of Arts and Letters, established in 1957 by the French Ministry of Culture, recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to arts and culture in France and globally.
Kimsooja previously received the rank of Chevalier (Knight) of the Order of Arts and Letters in December 2017, making this her second recognition from the French government. The current promotion advances her from the third rank to the second rank within the order’s hierarchy.
Who is Kimsooja?
Kimsooja, who uses a single name that “refuses gender identity, marital status, socio-political or cultural and geographical identity by not separating the family name and the first name,” is a multidisciplinary conceptual artist. She received her BFA (1980) and MFA (1984) in painting from Hongik University in Seoul and studied lithography at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 1984 on a French government scholarship.
The artist has maintained connections with France for over four decades since her initial studies there. In 2024, she became the first Korean artist to receive “carte blanche” at the Pinault Collection in Paris, where she presented the exhibition “To Breathe — Constellation.” This honor granted her complete artistic freedom for the exhibition.
“I have been fortunate to realize many monumental projects over the last four decades by exchanging inspiration with the artists and cultural figures in France who have shown unwavering love and support for my work,” Kimsooja stated to Yonhap News Agency.
The award ceremony was conducted by French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Bertoux, recognizing Kimsooja’s contributions to cultural exchange and relations between South Korea and France.
Cover Image : installation titled To Breathe. Courtesy of Kimsooja
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