On July 11, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon sent a congratulatory message to contemporary artist Kim Suja, who was awarded the French Order of Arts and Letters 'Officier', expressing his congratulations and gratitude.
Minister Yoo stated, "This honor is a remarkable achievement that promotes the value and excellence of Korean contemporary art on the global stage, and it has become an important milestone in cultural exchanges between Korea and France ahead of the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year." He also remarked, "Kim Suja's representative work, the 'Bottari' series, deeply resonated with people around the world as an original art that fuses various traditional materials with experimental approaches. I hope that your art will continue to inspire many people worldwide," he added in encouragement.
Artist Suja Kim is receiving the Cultural and Artistic Merit Medal 'Officier' from Philippe Pertusot, the French Ambassador to Korea, at the French Embassy residence in Korea on the 9th. Photo by Yonhap News
On July 9, Kim Suja received the Order of Arts and Letters Officier, awarded by the French government, at the residence of the French Ambassador to Korea.
The French Order of Arts and Letters, established in 1957, is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding creative activity in the fields of art and literature or have contributed to enhancing the international status of French culture. The order consists of three grades: Commandeur (1st class), Officier (2nd class), and Chevalier (3rd class). Kim Suja previously received the Chevalier in 2017. Other Korean recipients include Kim Jungok, former director of the Korea Arts and Culture Education Service (2002, Commandeur); conductor Myung-Whun Chung (2011, Commandeur); film director Bong Joon-ho (2016, Officier); and soprano Sumi Jo (2025, Commandeur).
Based in both Seoul and Paris, Kim Suja has presented boundary-transcending works across various fields including painting, sewing, installation, performance, video, light and sound, and architecture. Her installation art series 'Bottari', in which she wraps furniture and old clothes in traditional bojagi, has gained international attention, earning her the nickname 'Bottari artist.' Last year, she became the first Korean artist to be invited as a carte blanche (full authority) artist at the private Parisian museum Bourse de Commerce-Pinault Collection, where she held a large-scale solo exhibition titled 'To Breathe?Constellation,' further solidifying her reputation in France.
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