FREEDOM:THE CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS/CELSIUS & ARTCELSI

LEE, KYUNG HEE

PAINTING ARTIST

Kyunghee Lee’s work is not a conventional representation, but a “simulacra that has no original,” created by the artist’s imagination and sensibility. Transcending the boundaries between reality and fantasy, and the division between the figurative and abstract, these works do not allow any simple interpretation and arrest the viewer’s gaze for a long period of time. The dichotomy of coincidence and inevitability become deconstructed in these works, inviting the viewers into the mysterious and fascinating world of destined connection evoked by “coincidental inevitability.”

Works

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Words

CRITICISM

A World of Destined Connections Evoked by “Coincidental Inevitability

Choi, KwangJin (Art Critic)

A “Coincidence” is what we call an unexpected event that occurs without any evident cause and effect. From a rationalist point of view, coincidences may seem like a world of irrationality with causes unknown, but this is not necessarily true. Even in the world of coincidences, there is a hidden order that we do not know, and by understanding this world, we may expand the realm of our consciousness.

The most recognizable change in recent work by Kyunghee Lee, is the abundance of coincidence, or chance, expressed through ink spreading. Produced using the wood engraving technique, Lee’s early works in the 1990s integrated exquisite and delicate images on to a small surface in a surrealist manner. This style, emphasized by its sharp engraving and dense composition, gradually loosened over time through the Portrait of a Beauty and My Mythology series in the 2010s. Beginning with the Nomadic Desire series in 2017 and the current Coincidental Inevitability series, the artist more actively engages with the element of chance through the effect of ink spreading.

When ink is dropped into a container of water and rice paper is dipped onto its surface, the paper and ink immediately become one as the ink begins to spread through the paper instantly. Kyunghee Lee’s work begins from this coincidental stain created when the ink meets paper, then progresses to construct a world of inevitability. The ambiguous, dreamlike figures that evoke images of animals, humans, or nature, are layered with figurative images created in meticulous wood engraving, reflecting subtle harmony, and their inevitable connection. With additional figures symbolizing the materialistic desire in today’s consumer culture – such as a shopping cart, handbag, high heel and hat – the coincidental universe is transformed into a world of inevitability.

This inevitability, however, is not intended from the beginning, but spontaneously adopted through the process of communicating with the abstract stains. Therefore, the final outcome of the work is not a conventional representation, but a “simulacra that has no original,” created by the artist’s imagination and sensibility. Transcending the boundaries between reality and fantasy, and the division between the figurative and abstract, these works do not allow any simple interpretation and arrest the viewer’s gaze for a long period of time. The dichotomy of coincidence and inevitability become deconstructed in these works, inviting the viewers into the mysterious and fascinating world of destined connection evoked by “coincidental inevitability.”

In fact, all of us are connected in a meaningful relationship, not just with other people, but also with nature and objects. Within this intimate network of relationships, each entity constantly evolves and influences one another. Unfortunately, what plagues this dynamic network of life is the selfish human greed and discrimination that divide species into a hierarchy, defining one superior or inferior over another. In Lee’s work, which transforms coincidence into inevitability, one can witness the freedom and playfulness, escaping these constraints of discrimination.

The reason Lee’s recent work feels more playful and relaxed in comparison to her earlier work, which reflected the patience and discipline of an ascetic, is entirely because of the element of coincidence. When we are faced with difficult, coincidental situations where our habitual responses are no longer recognized, we suspend our conventional judgment. Under these circumstances, we feel perplexed and nervous, but at the same time, awaken our inherent nature to resolve the situation. Similarly, Kyunghee Lee intentionally exposes herself to these situations, in which conventional judgment is suspended, as a way to draw out her own subconsciousness and creativity.

In a glimpse, Lee’s work may evoke Magritte’s technique of dépaysement, but unlike the surrealist artist who attempted to deconstruct our logical consciousness through the combination of chance, Lee actively engages her subconscious and essence in the process of transforming chance into inevitability. As a result, Lee’s work presents a unique kind of visual pleasure that is solely its own, based on a kind of mythical imagination free from the oppression of socialization.

C.V

profile about Lee, Kyung Hee

1986 M.F.A College of Arts, Graduate School, EWHA Women's University
1984 B.F.A College of Arts, EWHA Women's University

Solo Exhibition
2020 Coincidental Inevitability (Bohyemiahn gallrry, Seoul)
2019 LIFE, Let’do collage (gallery Far Beyond, Seoul)
2018 ARTBIT Gallery special Exhibition (Seoul)
2018 Gallery Pianocchio Invited Exhibition (Gyeonggi-do, Yangpyeong)
2016 Everything is connected-Relationship/ New Discourse contest excellence award, Cyart Space (Seoul)
2014 Gildamsowon Art Gallery (Seoul)
2011 Pink Gallery (Seoul)
2009 Gallery Artside (Seoul)
2009 Lee Art Gallery Invited Exhibition (Dai-Gu)
2009 Gallery Dio Invited Exhibition (Wonju-si Kangwon-do)
2000 Gallery Sancheon (Canada, Calgary)
1999 Gallery Four season (Seoul)
1998 Academy Gallery (National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon)
1996 Gallery Nine (Seoul)
1993 Namu Gallery (Seoul)

Group Exhibition
2020 BAMA(BEXCO, Busan)
2020 Adieu dystopia(gallery Artcelsi, Seoul)
2020 Ulsan International Wood Print festival(Culture Art Center, Ulsan)
2020 Douro Biennial(Coa Museum, Portugal)
2020 Market AP(Understand Avenue-Art Stand, Seoul)
2019 Spare Moment in Art (Spare Moment Coffee Roasters,Brooklyn, NY)
2019 Maters of Korean printmakers (Irkutsk State Art Museum, Russia)
2019 Contemporary Korean Woodcut (Galerie Nothburga, Austria)
2019 4th GLOBAL PRINT 2019 (Douro Museum, Portugal)
2019 FUNFUN Print (Dongdug gallery, Seoul)
2019 INI 5th anniversary Contemporary woodprint exhibition(INI gallery, JeJu)
2018 DO PRINTㅡ60year of korean contemporary printmaking (Gyeonggi Museum of modern art, Ansan)
2018 ART EDITION (KINTEX, Ilsan)
2018 All,Connected artbanner exhibition (OlympickPark,Seoul/ Gangneung KTXstation)
2018 Print with Good Luck-Sehwa’Print(Alive Print Making Museum, Jincheon)
2018 Chai Rim Exhibition (Bohyemiahn gallery, Seoul)
2018 Seoul print Clup Exihibition (Sanwoollim Theater, Seoul)
2017 New year wood print invite exhibition(Gallery Wul, Gyeonggi Ilsan)
2017 Engrave; engrave(HongIk university museum of modern art , Seoul)
2017 Ulsan International woodPrint festival(Culture Art Center, Ulsan)
2017 Seoul print Clup Exihibition(galleryK, Seoul)
2016 Binhai New Area Sino-Korea Engraving Exchange Exhibition(Teda library & archives, China Tianjin)
2016 Sehwa'Print exhibition(Gallery Wul, Gyeonggi Ilsan)
2016 Eco-Print meet!(Seolmijae art museum gallery, Gyeonggi Gapyong)
2016 (Diallogue:Printartists) (Gyunghee Palace, Seoul Museum Art, Seoul)
2016 Ulsan International woodPrint festival(Culture Art Center, Ulsan)
2016 Chai Rim Exhibition(KEPCO Art Center, Seoul)
2016 Seoul Print Clup Exihibition(PAPER CROWN, Seoul)
2016 ESEO Exihibition(Insa Art Gallery, Seoul)
2015 Korea Contemporary Association Exhibition (Gyunghee Palace Detached building, Seoul Museum Art, Seoul)
2015 Ulsan International woodPrint festival(Culture Art Center, Ulsan)
2015 Chai Rim Exhibition(KEPCO Art Center, Seoul)
2015 Sarcelle International Print Biennale(France, Paris)
2015 Tanhualin Guanlan International Printmaking Invitation Exhibition(China, Uwhan)
2014 Korea Contemporary Association Exhibition(Gyunghee Palace, Seoul Museum Art, Seoul)
2014 Thank you! 20x20( Gallery MANO, Seoul)
2014 Ulsan International woodPrint festival(Culture Art Center, Ulsan)
2014 ART EDITION (Seoul Art Center, Seoul)
2013 Hong Kong hotel art fair (Marco Polo Hotel, Hongkong)
2013 Ulsan International woodPrint festival(Culture Art Center, Ulsan)
2013 ESEO Exhibition(Gongpyong Art Center, Seoul)
2013 PEACE Museum collection of fund special exhibition(PEACE Museum, Seoul)
2013 Happy winter exhibition (pink gallery, Seoul)
2013 ART EDITION (SETEC, Seoul)
2013 Korea Contemporary Association (Gyunghee Palace Detached building, Seoul Museum Art, Seoul)
2012 Korea Contemporary Association (Gyunghee Palace Detached building, Seoul Museum Art, Seoul)
2012 China. Korea excellent printartist invitation exhibit, Taiwan)
2012 Thank you! 20x20( Gallery MANO, Seoul)
2012 Seoul International Print·Photo Art Fair (BEXCO, Busan )
2012 Ulsan International woodPrint festival(Culture Art Center, Ulsan)
2011 Print and Information Exhibition (Gyunghee Palace Detached building, Seoul Museum Art, Seoul)
2011 Wood Print Association Exhibition (Namu gallery, Seoul)
2011 Seoul Print Club Exhibition (K gallery, Seoul)
2011 Happy winter exhibition (pink gallery, Seoul)
2011 Ewha Fine Art Exhibition (Sejong Center, Seoul)
2011 International Print Network -Korea Contemporary Print (Heyri Art Village)
2011 Picture from the heart Woodprint Four people exhibition (Gallery Books, Seoul)
2011 Seoul International Print·Photo Art Fair (BEXCO, Busan)
2011 PINK ART FAIR (Intercontinental hotel, Seoul)
2010 The Prints Kyung-Hee lee, Hee-Kyung Jeong Invited Exhibition (Gallery mano, Seoul)
2010 Seoul Print Club Exhibition (Kimnaehyun Gallery, Kyunggi)
2010 Seoul International Print·Photo Art Fair (Seoul Art Cente, Seoul)
2009 Print your life - Portfolio Exhibition (Gyunghee Palace Detached building, Seoul Museum Art, Seoul)
2009 Seoul International Print·Photo Art Fair (Seoul Art Cente, Seoul)
2008 Our Birdnest Weaving Exhibition (Kwanhoon Gallery, Seoul)
2008 The Flow of Korean Contemporary Prints (Jeonbuk Province Art Museum, Wanju)
2008 Print Aesthetic of Reproduction Era-Edition (Kyoungnam Arts Culture Center, Changwon)
2008 3People 3Colors Print Exhibition (Keumsan Gallery, Tokyo, Japan)
2008 Seoul International Print Photo Art Fair (Seoul Art Center, Seoul)
2008 Ewha Fine Art Exhibition (Insa Art Gallery, Seoul)
2007 The Seoul Art Exhibition 2007 - Printmaking (Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul)
2007 Extreme Print Exhibition (Jinheung Art Hall Special Project, Seoul)
2007 Seoul International Print Photo Art Fair (Seoul Art Center, Seoul)
2007 Busan International Print Art Festival (Busan Metropolitan City Hall, Busan)
2007 Seoul Print Club Exhibition (Gallery K, Seoul)
2007 Seoul Print Club Exhibition (Cultural Space G, Daegu)
2007 Korea Contemporary Print 1958-2008 (National Museum of Contemporary Art)
2006 Human and Dream 2006 Little Art Museum (Artrium Special Exhibiton Hall, The Korean Development Bank, Seoul)
2006 39th Ewha Fine Art Exhibition (Sejong Culture Center Gallery, Seoul)
2006 International Print Network-Korea Contemporary Print Exhibition (Art village Heyri, Paju)
2006 Precious Painting - 4 Printers for Wooden Print (Gallery Books, Seoul)
2006 Seoul International Print·Photo Art Fair (Seoul Art Center, Seoul)
2006 Tripitaka Koreana Culture Festival (Haeinsa, Hapcheon)
2006 Seoul Print Club Exhibition (Gallery Chai, Heyri, Paju)
2006 Doosan International Print Fair (Doosan Art Center, Daegu)
2006 Seoul Print Club Exhibition (Red Forest, Seoul)
2005 Korea Contemporary Print·International Exchange Exhibition (Sejong Culture Center Gallery, Seoul)
2005 Seoul International Print·Photo Art Fair (Seoul Art Center)
2004 2004 Print New Searching and Practical Exhibition (Han-Jeon Plaza, Seoul)
2004 Happy Art Travel Exhibition (Chosunilbo Gallery, Seoul)
2004 Drawing on the Tree People Exhibition (Gyeonggi Culture Foundation, Suwon)
2004 Sae Bom·Art Coordination Exhibition (Insa Art Center, Seoul)
2004 Seoul Print Art Fair (Seoul Art Center, Seoul)
2004 Seoul Print Club Exhibition (Gallery SP, Seoul)
2004 Interesting Maze Travel 25things Message Exhibition (Gyeonggi Culture Foundation, Suwon)
2003 Korean Respiration Exhibition·the Americas Emigrant 100th Anniversary Print Invited Exhibition - The American Korean Culture Center and University Museum of Art
2003 Seoul Print Art Fair (Seoul Art Center, Seoul)
2003 Seoul Print Club Exhibition (Yemaek Gallery, Seoul)
2003 Korea Contemporary·International Print Exchange Exhibition (Sejong Culture Center, Seoul)
2003 Print Academy Exhibition (Academy Gallery,National Museum of Contemporary Art)
2002 The Woodprint of Today (Gallery Samsung plaza, Sungnam)
2002 Korea International Print Arts Festival·International Contemporary Print Arts Exhibition (Sungsan Art Hall, Changwon)
2002 Wisdom and Creation Exhibition- Sungbo Museum Opening Celebration a (Preview of Haeinsa, Hapcheon)
2001 Seoul Print Art Fair (Seoul Art Center, Seoul)
2001 21c Korea Art Massage of Desire (Gallery Chang, Seoul)
2001 Korea Art, Aesthetic of Silence and Movement (Hans Opening Celebration a Preview, Seoul)
2001 Ex Livris Exhibition (Kwanhoon Gallery, Seoul)
2001 International Ex Livris Saint·Nicolas (Belgium)
2000 Incheon Opened Land (Incheon Total Culture Art Center, Incheon)
2000 On the Hill Gallery (Namyeoju Golf club, Golf house, Yeoju)
2000 Seoul Print Art Fair (Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul)
2000 Ewha Print Associtaion (Samsung plaza Gallery, Sungnam)
2000 Seoul Print Club Exhibition (Indeco Gallery, Seoul)
1999 New Millenium Exhibition - Hahoe and Andong (Andong Mask Museum, Andong)
1999 Seoul Print Art Fair (Seoul Art Center, Seoul)
1999 Contemporary Print Exhibition (Gallery Dohol, Seoul)
1999 Ewha Print Association (Kwanhoon Gallery, Seoul)
1999 Seoul Print Club Exhibition (Kimnaehyun Gallery, Seoul)
1999 Korea Contemporary Print 1999 Exhibition Seoul (Museum of Art, Seoul)
1999 Print Academy Exhibition (Academy Gallery, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon)
1998 Seoul Art Exhibition (Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul)
1998 Poem Exhibition of Nowadays thorough Print (Hakgojae, Seoul)
1998 Seoul Print Art Fair (Seoul Art Center, Seoul)
1998 Ewha Print Assocociation (Kwanhoon Gallery, Seoul)
1998 Korea Contemporary Print 30th Anniversary Exhibition (Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul)
1998 Seoul Print Club Exhibition (Kimnaehyun Gallery, Seoul)
1998 Print Academy Exhibition (Academy Gallery, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon)
1997 Promising Artists Exhibition Tour (Kimnaehyun Gallery and 10 cities, Seoul)
1997 Contemporary Print Exhibition (Gallery Dohol, Seoul)
1997 Seoul Print Art Fair (Seoul Art Center, Seoul)
1997 Ewha Print Association (Kwanhoon Gallery, Seoul)
1997 Seoul Print Club Exhibition (Kimnaehyun Gallery, Seoul)
1997 Print Academy Exhibition (Chung Gallery, Seoul)
1996 International Miniature Print Exhibition of Space (Space Gallery, Seoul)
1996 Print and Space Exhibition (Semi Gallery, Seoul)
1996 Seoul Print Art Fair (Seoul Art Center, Seoul)
1996 Seo·E Exhibition (Fine Art Center, Seoul)
1996 Art Edition Exhibition (International Gallery, Sweden)
1996 Ewha Print Association (Kwanhoon Gallery, Seoul)
1995 Seoul Print Art Fair (Seoul Art Center, Seoul)
1995 Ganagawa Andepangdang Exhibition (Yokohama National Museum of Art, japan)
1995 Invited Exhibition of 95’ Korean Art (Fine Art Center, Seoul)
1995 Print Academy Exhibtion -(Academy Art Museum, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon)
1994 Seoul Print City Exploration Exhibition (Gallery Time, Seoul)
1994 Our Culture Products Exhibition (Lotte Department, Seoul）
1994 EWHA Prints Association (KwanHoon Gallery, Seoul)
1994 Print Academy Exhibition (National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon)

Awards
New Discourse contest excellence award (cyart space, 2016)

Public Collection
National Museum of Contemporary Art - Art Bank (Seoul)
British Museum (England, London)
Australian Embassy (Republic of Korea)
The Korea Metal Journal (Seoul)
Alive Jincheon Print Making Museum
Gyeonggi Museum of modern art (Gyeonggi-Do,Ansan)

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