Hwanyi Kim – Ajar

Pocko Gallery presents Ajar, the UK debut of Korean artist and animator Hwanyi Kim. Through charcoal animations, intimate drawings, and an interactive installation, Kim explores the emotional terrain of isolation, anxiety, and the quiet resilience it takes to reconnect. The exhibition is part of Pocko Social, Pocko’s platform for socially engaged creativity, supporting projects that foster awareness, empathy, and cultural dialogue around issues like mental health.

Stills taken from animation

About Hwanyi Kim

Hwanyi Kim is a Korean artist and animator; educated at the Royal College of Art (MA Animation) and Dongguk University (BA Painting), Kim draws on her own experience of depression and isolation in Korea and the UK.

A central theme in Kim’s work is hikikomori, a severe social withdrawal often misunderstood as laziness but actually linked to trauma and psychological distress. While most recognised in Japan, hikikomori is also present in South Korea and globally.