Parallel Chaos

Yula Kim

Yula works and lives in London, UK. Artist Statement Yula is a contemporary painter whose work bridges the natural world and urban spaces through vivid colours, abstract forms inspired by natural creatures, and intricate spatial compositions. Her art explores Vitalism, a philosophy emphasising the interconnectedness of life, space, and nature, reaffirming their significance in an increasingly urbanised world. By integrating her third-cultural perspective, Yula weaves diverse narratives that challenge dominant viewpoints, offering a hybrid vision of shared human experiences. At the heart of her work lies a deep exploration of how humans engage with nature—both shaping and being shaped by it. Birds, a recurring motif in her paintings, symbolise resilience, migration, and the tension between humanity’s urban pursuits and the natural world’s persistence. They embody both freedom and fragility, mirroring human aspirations, cultural histories, and the consequences of ecological disruption. The extinction of species such as the ‘ō‘ō and huia reflects the impact of human intervention, while the migration of birds becomes a metaphor for movement, renewal, and reimagining coexistence. Yula’s work embodies a feminist ethic of care, resisting hierarchical systems that exploit and divide. Her paintings reimagine interactions between humans and nature as acts of empathy, challenging the modern disruptions that fracture these bonds. By celebrating vitality and critiquing the transformations of contemporary landscapes, she calls for a rekindling of humanity’s connection with the living world. Her art envisions a future where urban spaces and ecosystems exist in harmony, offering pathways toward healing, coexistence, and liberation. Through her dynamic compositions, Yula invites viewers to not only observe but to engage—reconsidering their role in an ever-evolving relationship with nature.