Heechan Kim developed a unique creative process by combining traditional techniques based on a solid understanding of the physical properties of the humble material of wood. He began by exploring ways to bend thinly sliced wood while maintaining its general shape, drawing inspiration from traditional boat and canoe production techniques. Kim starts by cutting ash trees into thin pieces, bending them with heat, and creating a hole in the wood grain. He then weaves and stitches the pieces together with metal lines, giving rise to a singular, curved mass. This technique, which became a hallmark of the artist, offers limitless possibilities to those and only those who fully understand the nature of the wood and respect its duality.

Kim's work showcases a lively and dynamic vitality on every surface, achieved through the ways in which the pieces of wood and the singular mass complement each other. The wood’s innate resilience, as it tries to revert to its original shape, unknowingly generates a vibrant energy in his work. This innovative kinetic energy arises only when the wood’s direction and the artist’s intention gracefully align, allowing the artist to closely communicate with the sensitive material. His work highlights the relationship between human hands and craftsmanship, resulting in a naturalness that is both unfamiliar and unpretentious.

The unique sense of form and volume in Kim’s work creates a third conceptual space full of tension between the work and the audience. The distinct separation between the interior and exterior of the sculpture invites the viewer to delve into its inner workings, while simultaneously rendering this division irrelevant. His work evokes the human body and its organs, or at times conveys a hidden narrative. The true value of his work becomes apparent as one observes the subtle implications in its visible form and process, the state of solidarity and coexistence symbolized by the structure that evokes the image of humans standing back to back with their hands locked, and the anticipation for an emotional exchange within this state.