TOYANG – Call of the Earth

A guide to greater appreciation and mindfulness – an impassioned response to the call of the Earth.
Experience cross-cultural wisdom through the remarkable journey of an inspiring woman.

Before opening "Berlin's hippest restaurant" (Stern) at the age of 66, Jinok Kim, born in Seoul, was an opera singer on international stages and created art from clay. She embodies a vibrant enthusiasm through all her endeavors, weaving a cultural tapestry between Korea and Germany, which she unfolds impressively in this book alongside her husband, Dirk Eicken. In their journey, we meet German bio-activists and Korean shamans, savor natural wines, and listen to the epic Pansori singing.

Jinok Kim and Dirk Eicken take us to the bustling metropolis of Seoul and their garden in Sacrow by the Havel. The book explores kimchi and the art of fermentation, a centuries-old cultural practice that nurtures creativity, patience, and humility in the face of nature's essence and workings. This book reminds us that "a life-sustaining nature, which provides humanity with the means to live, is rooted in the realm of the Earth. In an Earth that is rich, our lives are measured by its abundance."

Publisher: Rowohlt Taschenbuch
Release: 11.03.2025
ISBN: 978-3-499-01633-2
256 Pages
Authors: Jinok KimDirk Eicken

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Jinok Kim Dirk Eicken TOYANG – Call of the Earth

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Jinok Kim

Jinok Kim is a restaurant owner, chef, and artist. Born in 1952 in South Korea, she trained in classical singing at Seoul National University and the University of the Arts Berlin, performing as an opera singer on stages worldwide. In 2009, inspired by both European and Korean ceramic traditions, she began creating art from clay. In 2018, at the age of 66, she opened the ceramic gallery restaurant "NaNum" in Berlin, which is now listed in the Michelin Guide.

Dirk Eicken

Dirk Eicken , born in 1959 in Hagen, is a visual artist who studied at the University of the Arts Berlin at the same time as Jinok Kim. He works with videos, objects, and installations, but has primarily focused on painting since the beginning. For the past 30 years, he has written texts that are sometimes part of his works and has reflected on aesthetics, ethics, and art. Additionally, he has supported Jinok Kim since the initial concept of "NaNum" as a backup for the restaurant.