Elle Decor
la factory di Christina Kim
April 2003
It is hard to escape the magnetic pull of Christina Kim’s karma. Born in South Korea, raised in the United States, and an untiring traveler, Kim is the designer and driving force behind dosa, a brand that inspires devotion in fashion.
Catching up with her usually means intercepting one of her whirlwind migrations: between Los Angeles, where she lives and works; London, where she occupied "9 Dering Street", the legendary space of Anthony d'Offay, Andy Warhol's and Gilbert and George's gallerist, with her themed exhibitions; Milan, where she chose Dovetusai to present her homewear collections; and the Far East, a constant point of return in her personal and creative geography.
Eventually, however, she always returns to base camp: her factory on Broadway in Downtown L.A., a place densely layered with images, memories, and fragments gathered from the most unexpected corners of the world. Using found objects, she composes striking still lifes rich in color and texture, where references range from the canvases of Cy Twombly to antique Eastern textiles. These curated assemblages she sets up serve as sources of inspiration for the fashion collections in the dosa laboratory-studio-showroom.
The space mirrors her home, which she describes as “very simple, yet warm and comfortable. I prefer to surround myself with natural artifacts rather than iconic design objects.” She lives in a house designed by Richard Neutra, perched above the city and commanding sweeping views of Los Angeles. “I like to wake up early in the morning,” Christina says. “I listen to the birds at dawn and enjoy a cup of tea in the company of my cat.”
It is only a brief pause before days filled with commitments and creative projects. Among them the final touches to the forthcoming exhibition in her London gallery, just steps from New Bond Street, where she will explore the dialogue between art and fashion. There, her garments—often conceived as painterly surfaces—are presented alongside jewelry created in collaboration with designer Pippa Small and textile works infused with ancient influences. Throughout her practice, Christina Kim draws on a sophisticated palette of colors, techniques, and visual languages gathered through her encounters with diverse cultures and traditions across the globe.
text: Laura Maggi
photo: Noelle Hoeppe
english translation: Ilaria Mazzoleni