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Portfolio

Where are you from?
I am originally from Seoul, South Korea.

Where do you live now?
I live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

What have you been doing since you graduated?
I am teaching at Louisiana State University (LSU).

What is your current job? In 2 or 3 sentences, can you explain what your position is and what some of your responsibilities are?
I am an assistant professor of digital art at LSU. I supervise the Art & Tech Laboratory (@Lab) as a co-director, teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses in animation, video art, physical computing, creative coding, senior project, and graduate seminar. I am also a research scholar in the Cultural Computing Research Group in the Center for Computation and Technology (CCT) at LSU. As a faculty member serving on the development committee and digital art area-coordinator, I aid in developing courses and curriculum pertaining to interactive design and digital fabrication as well as other activities associated with electronic media production.

Can you tell us about a recent project you’ve worked on that you were really excited about?
Over the past two years, I created two site-specific outdoor kinetic pieces, Floating Identity and A Journey of Footsteps, organized and funded by the Amorepacific Museum. Floating Identity (https://vimeo.com/138714890) is a gigantic face in a granite pond that audiences can change the female figure’s facial expressions with manual handles. The face submerged in the water reveals the alternating standards of feminine identity in constant flux and fluidity. A Journey of Footsteps (https://vimeo.com/178472720) with Myung Ki Nam represents the power of collaboration and cooperation. Using foot pedals, participants experience positive active dynamics of a conjoined future walking together.

Currently, I am developing a racist robot, Invisible, which collects sentences including derogatory terms posted on online platforms and print out those sentences to initiate discussions about sensitive social and racial issues. Invisible explores the political implications of how discrimination is expressed online, where these discriminations can easily be hidden. The most important purpose of Invisible is to raise discussions, not to remain in frustration. Please find further information on my website at www.hynam.org.

 

How do you think the program help prepare you for your life after Georgia Tech?
Among the enormous amount of things that I have learned from the Digital Media department at Georgia Tech, I can elaborate on two specific things: Communication and Collaboration. I learned how to present my work, not only to artists or designers but also to other peers in computer science, engineering, humanities, or even business through research and theories. Georgia Tech broadened my perspective in digital media and taught me how to organically share ideas and develop visions within social systems. This process usually requires collaboration with others who may have different backgrounds. GeorgiaTech offered me an opportunity to learn about myself and find my expertise as well as how to communicate with my peers and execute projects with the synergy of collaboration.