Story & Lesson Highlights with DADA KIM of Downtown

We recently had the chance to connect with DADA KIM and have shared our conversation below.

DADA, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
This question made me pause, because the line between walking a path and wandering is thinner than people think. To me, wandering is letting the world tug at your curiosity in unexpected ways, while walking a path is staying connected to the direction you chose for yourself.

With that in mind, I’d say I’m wandering while walking a path.
I have clear goals as an artist, but I also let curiosity pull me into new corners. I allow the world to shake me, distract me, surprise me — and somehow those detours still guide me forward. So yes, I wander, but I’m wandering toward something: the person I want to become.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Sure! I’m an artist who answers to DADA KIM—a photographer, painter, mixed-media experimenter, and occasional chaos-maker. I create work that sits somewhere between humor and heartbreak, the confusion and the “what on earth is happening?” energy of everyday life.

My practice mixes photography, drawing, pop-art, text, and whatever else I feel like playing with. I grew up feeling like I landed on Earth without the rulebook, so most of my work explores that: belonging, not belonging, and finding humor in that weird in-between place. I like to take ordinary moments and tilt them just enough to make people laugh, look closer, or feel seen.

Right now, I’m working on multiple series that explore identity, alien feelings, and emotional honesty—with a brightness and playfulness that keeps the heavy topics from sinking. My goal is to make art that feels like a friend: it jokes with you, but it also understands you.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
Such an interesting question I had never asked myself that before.

When I was a kid, biking fast downhill made me feel invincible. The wind tickled my face, dried the sweat from the uphill battle, and suddenly I felt like the queen of the universe. Same with drawing in playground sand using only my fingers. I’d pull stories out of dirt and think, “Wow, I really own this world. No one can stop me from imagining.”

Then you grow up and realize the world has rules and gatekeepers and spaces that don’t feel made for you. So this question reminded me: the world I create for myself—my imagination, my art, my voice—that’s mine. And that’s powerful. I need to carry that childlike magic with

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
When I realized hiding my pain isn’t power at all. Recognizing it, understanding it, and sharing it, that’s the real power.
To be honest, I’m still not the best at sharing my feelings. In high school, my best friend wrote in a birthday letter, “I hope you share more about yourself. I’m your friend!” That line really shook my heart. It made me realize that when I hide myself, people can feel far away from me.

I’m still learning to be someone who has the courage to share my pain instead of stuffing it under the emotional rug.
But my emotions—especially the messy ones—have always fueled my art. I make things because I want my voice heard, because I want people to see the thoughts and feelings I felt were ignored. Pain became my fuel. And I just keep going.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
That keeping your childlike self alive is essential.
Adults love to tell you to “grow up,” but honestly, my inner child is the bravest voice I have in the room. Curiosity, creativity, courage, they all come from that playful, stubborn version of me. Not to use it as an excuse to leave my room messy, but it is an excuse to try things adults think are “not appropriate” or “too weird.”
Be brave. Be silly. Be interested. That’s the secret.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
That bad moments are basically the red carpet rolled out for the good ones.
We act like life should be permanently happy, like a fairy tale with perfect lighting. But honestly, the ups feel so rewarding because of the downs. The downs are uncomfortable, but they’re also upgrades waiting to load.

So don’t panic during your low moments. Don’t think you’re broken. Think of it as life stretching you so you can jump higher next time. Enjoy your downs a little. They’re the groundwork for your next turning point.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dadakim.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dadakiim/
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dadakiim

Image Credits
@DADAKIM