Professor Han-Ki Kim Presents
“The Scientist of B612” Exhibition Inspired by The Little Prince
- The exhibition attempts to connect invisible scientific principles
with the essential values of life, such as love and friendship.
- Featuring over 60 works, the exhibition conveys hope
to young people through the concept of “quantum tunneling.”
Professor Han-Ki Kim of the School of Advanced Materials Science and Engineering will hold a solo exhibition titled “The Scientist of B612” at Gallery Insa1010 in Jongno-gu, Seoul, from March 18 to April 12, 2026. This exhibition marks his second invitational exhibition at Insa1010 and presents approximately 60 works that reflect his unique worldview as both a scientist and an artist.
▲ Poster for the 2026 Insa1010 Special Exhibition “The Scientist of B612”
This special exhibition is inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s novel The Little Prince. Professor Kim reinterprets the essential values that are often lost in adulthood through the lens of a scientist. Through his works, he conveys that scientific principles—such as electrons, magnetic fields, and waves—which are invisible yet drive the world, closely resemble the core values that sustain our lives, including love, friendship, and trust.
The exhibition space is organized into two thematic sections. On the first floor, the “Little Prince Zone” features works such as All grown-ups were once children, reminding visitors of the innocence and purity often forgotten in a modern society that emphasizes efficiency above all else. In particular, the binary numbers “0” and “1” appearing in the work Happiness represent not only the language of machines but also signify “YOU,” prompting reflection on the value of human existence in an era of advancing artificial intelligence (AI).
On the basement level, the “Scientist Zone” offers a deeper engagement with scientific thought. The representative Tunneling series is inspired by the concept of “quantum tunneling” in quantum mechanics, a phenomenon in which particles pass through barriers that seem impossible to overcome. Through this, Professor Kim delivers a message of hope and resilience to today’s youth facing significant challenges—such as academic pressures, employment, and economic difficulties—suggesting that these barriers can ultimately be overcome.
Professor Kim stated, “As a scientist, I once regarded emotions that cannot be explained through formulas as insignificant. However, the deeper I explored science, the more I realized that what truly moves the world are things that are invisible.” He added, “I hope this exhibition provides an opportunity for visitors to reconnect with their ‘childhood selves’ and rediscover their own planet, B612.”
SKKU expects that this exhibition will present a model of interdisciplinary talent that combines engineering knowledge with artistic sensibility, while also serving as an opportunity to introduce science to the public in a more accessible and warm manner. This exhibition was supported by the Gyeonggi Regional Research Center (GRRC).
▲ Works to be displayed in the exhibition
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