Kim Songhe creates chandeliers from things around us, like scrap wood, natural materials and stuffed animals. Originally interested in lighting, she was stirred up by the idea of creating chandeliers that no one had ever seen before. She started by using one of her own treasured stuffed animals. Together with her own personal feelings, she aims to decorate chandeliers one by one―with each one telling a story. We asked Songhe how she felt about her very unique creations.

My first chandelier was made out of my own stuffed animals. When I displayed it at an exhibition, it unexpectedly caught the eye of a buyer. That store ordered a Christmas-themed chandelier and displayed it right in the shop. This was about four years ago, and since then, I have been receiving orders from various buyers.
Some of the orders I get are from clothing shops or cafés; some are from individuals. Individual customers usually view my works on my website and order directly from there. The most popular items are things made of stuffed animals; chandeliers made from old books are also a big seller. When I make a chandelier for a clothing shop, I usually integrate some samples of their brand-name items.

I use my instincts to select materials, which is probably why I don’t draw a picture of the design when working on each chandelier. I have an image of what I want, but while I’m actually creating the item, I make adjustments along the way.
When making a chandelier, sometimes I think a certain material or object simply won’t work. Yet, when I actually start to integrate all the parts, I’m pleasantly surprised to find how a seemingly unmatchable item just blends right in! A sense of balance is always important when creating a project. For example, materials made of cloth and plastic go well together.
The source of my inspiration is related to my citizenship. Although I was born and raised in Japan, I am Korean, not Japanese. This was the source of a lot of discrimination for me as a child. I was always bothered by why people still think like that, even though we are all human beings. By making a single object out of stuffed animals from many different countries, I wanted to show that everyone can and should come together as one. In addition to stuffed animals, I also use cloth and other parts from different countries.”

I will continue to make chandeliers, but I am also introducing other, smaller creations. Twice a year, I rent a small space in order to host exhibitions displaying key chains, small mirrors and other accessories. I think many people like my chandeliers but they are rather expensive, so I created this product line to enable as many people as possible to enjoy my work.
I want to create objects that are not just decorative art, but useful art. Lights are things we need for daily life. Many people tell me about the stuffed animals they have, and how they can’t throw them away because of their sentimental value. I get a lot of orders to make chandeliers from stuffed animals that were actually cherished by customers when they were children. To reuse such items and resurrect them as chandeliers makes me happy!”