Kim Jae-min, a senior designer at Korea Minting and Security Printing Corp. (KOMSCO), is presenting a solo exhibition that highlights the delicate balance between artistry and security in currency design.
Titled “Portraits of Objects: Stories of Silent Beings,” the exhibition runs from Nov. 4 to 23 at the Currency Museum of Korea in Daejeon, operated by KOMSCO.
This marks Kim’s first solo exhibition after more than 22 years at the state-run KOMSCO — Korea’s sole manufacturer of banknotes and coins — where he has mastered the art of blending aesthetic expression with advanced anti-counterfeiting technologies.
“This exhibition originated from my work exploring the shapes, materials and security features of money,” Kim, KOMSCO design project manager, said in an interview with The Korea Times.
He added, “I wanted to show how art and technical precision can exist together in something we use every day but rarely notice,” briefly referencing his extensive public and commemorative projects, including the coins designed for the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting, held in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1.
“This exhibition is deeply personal to me, as it encapsulates my journey as a currency designer — a continuous dialogue between concealment and revelation,” he said, explaining that revelation highlights the artistic aspects while concealment applies to anti-counterfeiting features.
The poster for Kim Jae-min’s solo exhibition, “Portraits of Objects: Stories of Silent Beings” / Courtesy of Kim Jae-min
The entire exhibition space is conceived as what Kim describes as “a single large-scale installation,” integrating visual media — including paintings, graphic design and video — with everyday materials such as plastic, stone and light.
“The exhibition reimagines ordinary objects around the question, ‘What should be revealed, and what should be concealed?’” Kim said.
He went on to say that this interactive approach reflects how currency functions both as a social tool and a tangible object that engages the senses.
“Visitors do more than just look at the works,” he added. “They are invited to think in three dimensions, see everyday items in new ways, and refresh their perception while exploring the connections between sensation, technology and humanity.”
Kim has previously participated in group exhibitions, including the Korean Typography Society’s “Untouchable” in 2021 and the Jeonju International Film Festival’s “100 Films 100 Posters” in 2023.
His works have also been recognized on the international stage, including the Gwangju Biennale in 2021, the Korea Institute of Design Promotion in 2022, the Peruvian Design Biennale in 2022, and the Oesol International Typography Awards in 2023.
Asked about his future goals, Kim said, “I aim to reinterpret objects through three-dimensional installations, experimenting with the experiences I have accumulated as a currency designer in a form that is uniquely my own.”