UNFILTERED STORIES FROM OUR CLOSE FRIENDS WITH: SODAM HONG

In this interview, we delve into the world of SODAM HONG, who share her inspirations and unique perspectives.

SODAM HONG

1. Introduce Yourself to the Casawi Community: What drives you? What's your artistic vision, and what sets you apart from the crowd?

My drive comes from a place of creative fulfillment and curiosity. I grew up my entire life consistently creating- at first it was writing, then it was photography, until I started working as a Production Designer in the film industry. Although my passion for different parts in this creative field changed throughout time, I was always excited, curious and passionate about what I could create next- and that’s what kept me working and learning as a creative. I think my artistic vision comes from a root of many different things. A big part of my vision includes set design, prop making and styling. I believe working as a Production Designer in the film industry has refined my personal values of media arts in many ways, so I find a lot of my current inspiration coming from references of unique set design from musicals, music videos and photographs. I’ve learned to incorporate my strengths from this field, and getting to experiment my creativity is a constant growing experience for me. I’ve had countless twists, turns and moments of self doubt, but I think all these experiences have helped shape how I think, behave and understand art today. Without a doubt, it’s also morphed a lot of my creative direction now, and I’m only grateful I’ve had the experiences and learning opportunities to approach this creative field from different perspectives and talents.

2. City Inspirations: How has your city influenced your artistic path? Share how its streets, culture, and energy have molded your work.

It wasn’t until I started attending art school in Vancouver I started realizing the potential I was surrounded by. I grew up most of my life in the suburbs, and even looking at the work I was making back then, I can tell the city environment has changed my perspective in many ways. The city, especially Vancouver I think is packed with so many different communities and groups of people. The differing personalities, values and perspectives I was surrounded by in art school and just the small handful of friends groups I was in allowed me to understand different cultures, trends and helped me explore different parts of my own personal values. One community I felt connected and most welcomed by is the Vancouver Indie Film Community- as someone who stepped into the industry at first with no technical knowledge, connections or a defined portfolio, it was such a relieving feeling to have a community of people who continued to welcome me and reach out to me simply because they wanted to continue creating and connecting with me. I met so many kind, creative and passionate individuals in this community who continue to support me through my growth in this field. The Indie film community also reflects so many artists around the world- money coming out of your own pocket to be able to create your vision, and there are so many people working in this field for the sake of creating for yourself that I immensely respect.

3. Creative Process: What fuels your creativity? Whether it's a ritual, a muse, or a moment of clarity, we're keen to learn.

I’m not sure if I have a direct fuel for my creativity. It comes in waves- sometimes, ideas feel clear and I start writing things down right away. Other times, it’s a slower process and I have to take time away from my project in hopes to approach it in a different perspective. I think the times when I feel I yearn to create the most is when I feel the most. Wether I have things come up in my personal life or I have something I’m trying to work on within myself, when I feel a weight of emotions, I tend to look for an outlet and try to turn something I’m feeling into something I can visually understand and connect to. A lot of my work, especially my directed works is based off of moments of feelings and emotions I write down from time to time.

4. City Lifestyle and Art: How the places you lived influenced your career and work?

I grew up most of my life in Langley, the suburbs and recently started working and exploring more of Vancouver, the city. Although Vancouver has had a great impact on my work, I recently visited Korea for a few months to art and style assist for some productions and I think those few months in Korea really shaped a different approach to my work. I think Vancouver can be really safe in a way when it comes to creating. There’s a dominant Western style I don’t personally resonate with, and when I worked in Korea for those few months, getting a taste of the different creative visuals you can present through wardrobe styling, nail art, makeup, hair styles and set design was eye opening to me. It wasn’t until I came back to Vancouver from my trip to Korea I started wanting to direct more of my own photo and video projects, and instead of looking at my work from a logical or narrative point of view, I started thinking about aesthetics in a conceptual format which feels more exciting for me and how I want to continue presenting my work.

5. Latest or Upcoming Projects: Give us a glimpse into your current endeavors and what lies ahead on your creative journey.

I’m used to always planning something out for myself- at the moment, I have projects lined up with some Fashion Designers and brands, but I’m not exactly sure what my creative journey looks like for me. In this moment right now, I know I want to continue pushing myself to create and direct more projects, I enjoy fashion and creative expression, so that’s what I’m going with. I believe I earned what I’ve achieved through hard work, but I also believe with time, everything will fall into place. I think I’ll continue to find what sits right with me through time, and I think what’s right will also come find space in my life.

SODAM HONG

SODAM HONG

SODAM HONG

SODAM HONG

SODAM HONG

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Instagram: @sodamihong