Life in Appreciation:

An Elegant

Move to

Homo Aestheticus

Phrase No. 1

Interested in cultivating beauty, love, happiness, and flourishing in life and the world?

This is the first installment of a series expressing Vivienne Kim's contemplation of the human destiny entwined with the formation of the world. The four paintings, along with her personal objects featured in the exhibition, illustrate the human journey of cultivating the art of living in light of four aspects of human nature: from sapiens (knower), ludens (player), and faber (maker) to the emergence of aestheticus (beautiful human). The artist draws inspiration from her lifelong aesthetic experiences in her walk with people in various stages of life across diverse socio, cultural, and vocational contexts.

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Welcome to the Virtual Exhibition! To enhance your experience, please stream the background music as you explore. Enjoy your visit!

“Although venturing here onto the ground where angels fear to tread, I want to offer the thought that the really real for human beings is not simply to have traffic with each of the three worlds [autistic, illusionistic, and realistic], but to acquire also a sense for the truth, beauty, and goodness that is to be found in another traffic pattern: the elegant move back and forth between one world and another, at the right time, for the proper purpose, and with legitimate pleasure. It is appropriate to have loyalty to all.”

Paul Willem Pruyser (1916-1987), Dutch-American clinical psychologist,The Play of Imagination, 1985
So many of us wonder what it means to live a well-lived life, but we also question our destiny, like the French artist, Paul Gaugin, “Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?” This first installment of a series reflects the cosmic symphony of humanity's journey entwined with the formation of the world.
Inspired by Pruyser’s three-world model for human development, the artist explores how the art of living — cultivated by the elegant move across the interconnected three worlds — unveils four aspects of human nature: from sapiens (knower) in the autistic world, ludens (player) in the illusionistic world, and faber (maker) in the realistic world to the emergence of aestheticus (beautiful human) in between the three worlds.
“Beauty is perceived in the movement of the beloved.”

Vivienne Kim
Vivienne’s art is an embodied expression of her contemplation on the inter-formative life of humanity embedded in the world. It encompasses multiple spectrums of reality, from the ephemeral to the perpetual, from past to future, and from the unconscious to the conscious, intersecting the imperceptible, spiritual, metaphysical, incorporeal, sociocultural, geopolitical, economic, biological, corporeal, and physical realms.
The images are installed in the open air as they are less concerned with grasping the moment and more focused on giving, being in dialogue, receiving, reflecting, and revealing the nature of the continual movement toward Love.
The portal-like rings symbolize the orchestration of elegant movement across the three worlds in appreciation of truth, goodness, and beauty.
Inspired by string theory, which suggests that all fundamental particles and forces arise from the vibrations and interactions of tiny strings across multiple dimensions, these rings evoke a holistic view of reality, from the microscopic to the cosmic. They reflect the interconnectedness of the existence of human life, revealing the emergence of beauty, wisdom, symmetry, and harmony within the universe.
Rather than being perfect circles, the rings are naturally wired three times with an open end. This design expresses the dynamics of reality, highlighting the continuous creation and evolution at each step in humanity's journey. The open form signifies the idea that the future is not fixed but ever-expanding as we appreciate the depth and richness around us.

Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?
Paul Gauguin (French, 1848–1903)
1897–98
Oil on canvas
139.1 x 374.6 cm (54 3/4 x 147 1/2 in.)

Meet Vivienne Kim:
Vivienne was born in Seoul, South Korea. One of her most cherished childhood memories is the beautifully tender smile of her mother, a beacon of warmth and joy that transformed each day into a canvas of happiness. At the age of ten, an explosion tragically burned her face and hands, yet her mother’s refined aesthetic sensibility continued to shield and nurture her spirit. While her face healed without scars, this experience awakened in her an acute awareness of the perpetual and the transitory in human life coexisting in transcendent goodness. By thirteen, she had come to grasp the eternal nature of love and the soul, dedicating her youth to acts of pure charity before embarking on her academic journey.
As the years of promised service drew to a close, unseen injuries from the explosion manifested as craniocervical instability, subjecting her to nearly a decade of life-threatening episodes. Despite these challenges, she began her studies, which have now become another way of caring for the world. Though her daily life was occasionally curtailed, she found solace and strength in the steadfast love of her family, close friends, medical teams, and professors. Her odyssey through the medical realms of the U.S. and South Korea, in search of remedies for her rare conditions, expanded her vision of human flourishing in the multifaceted world and deepened her appreciation for those who labor to uplift it—artists, chefs, spiritual leaders, healthcare providers, public servants, educators, craftsmen, entrepreneurs, and many others.
In reflection, Vivienne marvels at the mosaic of beautiful souls who have graced her journey, each offering their own unique vision of a life well-lived. Now, as a philanthropic artist and researcher, she dedicates herself to the Care of Beauty Initiatives to accompany others on their life journeys in a manner reminiscent of how "a beautiful someone" once walked alongside her. She envisions a world that is not only healthy, equitable, and sustainable but also beautiful—a world where aesthetic consciousness is recognized as a regenerative source in the flourishing of humanity.
By aesthetic consciousness, we: 1) discern the values and heritage worth preserving and transmitting to posterity at a societal level, 2) practice humanity, philanthropy, and perform good works in the world through creative innovations, 3) cultivate the art of living in harmonious engagement with natural and cultured environments, 4) ultimately enrich a dignified vision of ourselves and others.
Along with her long-term research to conceptualize a human flourishing model "The Beautiful Life" across six major domains—family, work, education, religious communities, lifestyle consumption, and the non-human environment—she plans to collaborate with diverse socio-cultural, vocational, and business brand groups to create paintings that interpret and accompany their distinctive journeys toward homo aestheticus. This work serves as a dignifying avenue for making philanthropic contributions.

SAPIENS

The World of Dreaming

“God, who had chosen me and set me apart before I was born, and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me.”

Galatian 1:15

“…the mystery of God, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Colossian 2:3, Bible

Sapiens is in the realm of unpatterned patterns. The artist is inspired by the patterns found in ancient roads. During her period of semi-monastic life, she was completely immersed in the ineffable beauty of God’s love and charitable service to the vulnerable, through which she first came to vaguely perceive the concept of a dignified vision of humanity. Divine appellations mesmerized her, but most of all, the sublimity of the Crucifix triumphed and complemented all others. While what we experience in this world is real and valuable, there is more to be articulated to take form in the life of the world.

Inspired by Freud, a Spanish artist like Salvador Dalí spent a significant portion of his life expressing the beauty of the unconscious dimension of human existence.

The Persistence of Memory, 1931

LUDENS

The World of Playing

“On the seashore of endless worlds, children play.”

Tagore

The World of Ludens is the space in-between, between you and me. Here, we play in the realm of ordered imagination, learning to read the patterns woven into the fabric of the world. Scientists play with mathematical principles in this space, while many artists find themselves living within it.

Often unable to function independently, the artist's family and friends helped her with daily routines. A tremendous sense of joy and love flowed through their friendships. They delighted in understanding one another’s patterns, playing with symbols, becoming real to one another, and discovering each other's beauty.

The flower brooch symbolized the care shared between the artist and her professor. She wore it in the classroom as a quiet form of communication during moments of more intense cognitive disruption affecting her vision, hearing, speech, memory loss, and brain fog, alongside cardiac instability and piercing pain. The blue jay feather earrings, crafted by a friend, symbolized hope, as they were frequently found during the garden walk. The crucifix, a gift from a friend who stood by her through her most painful hours, served as an embodied expression of their friendship. “The Song of Mary” is a portrait of the artist, dedicated to her by a fellow artist and friend.

FABER

The World of Working

“Every man is the Artifex of his destiny.”

Appius Claudius Caecus

This is where we test and navigate the multi-layered realities of existence. The elements from the previous two worlds are embedded at the top of the painting, expanding the arena of human work built on the foundation of cultural heritage. While external objects capture our interest and inspire innovation, we simultaneously inhabit all three worlds.

The black frame at the center is inspired by a window at Deoksugung Palace (ca. 1900) in South Korea, while the vision of the stars is drawn from the Stone Constellation Chart (천상열차분야지도: 天象列次分野之圖, 1395), which reflects the scientific knowledge of the Joseon Dynasty.

In addition to her medical research, music became a tangible source of healing during a time when the absence of diagnosis and treatment left the artist in a constant state of precariousness. It served as a sanctuary and refuge, transforming even the darkest days of her life into moments of beauty. Private training in bel canto was crucial for repositioning and strengthening the weak ligaments around her cranial region until she discovered Dr. Moon Hyung Joo. His innovative holistic care in dentistry restored her condition.

Between classes, she often visited the empty chapel to sing classical arias, sacred music, and art songs, which helped her regain stability. She also kept a medical journal chronicling her daily singing and rehabilitation routine.

Deoksugung Palace

The Stone Constellation Chart

Listen to One Night I Count the Stars and explore Vivienne’s playlist. Lyrics by Yun Dong-ju, 1946; Music by Yong-Ju Lee, 2007, From Opera <Yun Dong-ju>

Yun Dong-ju (1917–1945), one of Korea’s most beloved poets, expressed faith, identity, and a quiet yearning for freedom through his verse. A Christian and dreamer, his works, including One Night I Count the Stars, capture a deep, introspective longing. Arrested in 1943 for writing in Korean and conveying a love for his homeland, he was imprisoned in Fukuoka, Japan, where he continued to write poetry, reflecting his inner suffering and enduring affection for his country. In 1945, he passed away in captivity, reportedly as a victim of medical experimentation. Yet, his poetry endures, a gentle yet poignant testament to truth, beauty, and the unspoken sorrows of his time.

The artist first encountered this music during a period of profound cognitive decline. Yet, its beauty illuminated even the darkest moments, transforming suffering into a deeply poetic and transcendent experience.

Yun Dong-ju

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AESTHETICUS

The Word of Already and More

“Korean aesthetics embraces the notion of coexistence, which elevates the arts to ‘the finesse of non finesse,’ transcending the contrasts and differences to elegant simplicity in the innocence of the soul.”

Vivienne Kim

The world of Aestheticus is the world of “Already and More.” It signifies that humanity is already beautiful—you are already beautiful—and there is always more to be discovered. This world embraces and coexists with all other three worlds. The ethos of the world of Aestheticus resonates with Korean aesthetics. All patterns from the previous three worlds—in their complexity, flaws, uncertainty and certainty, suffering and wholeness, sublimity and ordinariness, and mystery—are embedded here. Each crystal represents individuals moving through the history of civilization. Homo aestheticus emerges only through the movement of our collective existence toward Love. The future of humanity remains open to us.

Art of Living & Work of Art

The art of living serves as a kaleidoscopic lens through which we can appreciate and nurture individuals as works of art. It offers us—whether as a collective humanity or as individuals—a glimpse into our real-life movement toward a beautiful life, inclusive of spheres, directions, one’s background, stage, or season in life.

While we appreciate each other's personal journeys, the current exhibition also mirrors the distinctive eras that have shaped civilization as a whole. The aspiration to enter an era of beauty makes it both timely and essential to pause and reflect on our origins and the future we hope to shape for humanity.

Vivienne’s journey to homo aestheticus, showcased in this exhibition, serves as one model for you to uncover your own beauty.

Please select one of the three patterns and design your or your brand’s journey to homo aestheticus. If you were to curate an exhibition, what artefacts would you display in each world? Which world is your favorite? Where do you spend the most time? How do you travel between the worlds? Is there a particular world you'd like to explore more deeply? How do you describe the state of happiness, flourishing, and beauty in your tradition or culture?

Feel free to revisit any of the stations for inspiration. We encourage you to share your design with one another. Each of us is a treasure, layered with countless meanings, wisdom, beauty, and worth. As we grow in appreciation, we unlock new possibilities for the future of humanity and the world.

We would love to hear about your journey toward a beautiful life and appreciate you as a work of art!

Please share your experiences with @bviviennekim on Instagram.

Public Conversation

Connect with the community as we celebrate the humane and beautiful aspects of our neighborhood marketplace and the collective art of living.

“Each person comes to me as a work of art.

And my artistry lies in appreciating and accompanying their journey in truth, goodness, and beauty—toward the emergence of homo aestheticus. This has become a source of pure pleasure, honor, and gratitude for me.”

Acknowledgment

On behalf of Life in Appreciation: An Elegant Move to Homo Aestheticus Phrase No. 1, we extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has contributed to this exhibition. We wish to acknowledge our sponsor, Boston University, the organizing support of Emmanuel Church, professors, friends, and the neighborhood Newbury marketplace whose contributions have been invaluable. This exhibition is a tribute to the beauty of humanity, and we are delighted to embark on this aesthetic journey together. Thank you for being part of this celebration.

Boston University School of Theology l Boston University Arts Initiatives l Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium l Harvard University Divinity School l Duke University Divinity School l Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts l Duke Chapel Pathways l Asbury Theological Seminary l Oral Roberts University College of Theology and Ministry l Korea Soongsil Cyber University Center for Christian Counselling and Social Work l Emmanuel Church in the City of Boston l Duke Memorial United Methodist Church l Asbury United Methodist Church l Church of the Lord l Good Shepherd Methodist Church l Moon Dental Hospital l Duke University Hospital l Pedersen Chiropractic Center & CTS Center l St. John Medical Center l Inha University Hospital l Samsung Medical Center l Sejong Heart Center l Allbareun Orthopedics Clinic l Chungra Orthpedics Hospital l Wooridul Spine Hospital Pohang My beloved family, friends, medical team, local businesses, and those who became a source of inspiration by doing good works in the society’s larger care system.

Solo Exhibitions

April 2025
Life in Appreciation: An Elegant Move to Homo Aestheticus Phase No. I, Conference on Medicine and Religion, themed “Nurturing Hope: Expanding Holistic Care at the Margins”, Orange County, CA, USA
- Philanthropic goal: ReBUILD LA® Wildfire Relief Fund – Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles
February - March 2025
Life in Appreciation: An Elegant Move to Homo Aestheticus Phrase No. I, BU Arts Initiatives, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
Featuring an Artist Talk and Workshops
- Philanthropic goal: ReBUILD LA® Wildfire Relief Fund – Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles
August 2024
Life in Appreciation: An Elegant Move to Homo Aestheticus Phrase No. I, Emmanuel Church, Boston, MA, USA
Featuring the Newbury Night Conversation
Upcoming Creations
Aesthetic Eye:
- Kataphasis
- Apophasis
- Mater
- Pater
Aestheticus Study
Life in Appreciation:
- Phrase No. II Christian Dior
- Phrase No. III United Nations