Jinhee Lee: Boundaries of Existence
On view: June 25 - August 17, 2024
- Tuesday - Friday: 10 AM - 6 PM / Saturday: 11 AM - 5 PM
- It is closed on Sunday and Monday.
Venue: Gallery & Atrium at the Korean Cultural Center New York
- 1st and 2nd floors, 122 East 32nd Street, New York, NY, 10016
* Artist Talk with Jinhee Lee
Tuesday, June 25 | 5 - 6 PM
(Limited edition merchandise by Jinhee Lee will be given to attendees selected through a drawing.)
** EXHIBITION OPENING RECEPTION
Tuesday, June 25 | 6 - 8 PM
*** Giveaway Event
Share your visit on Instagram and enter our giveaway for a chance to win a special eco-friendly Kokdu crafted by Lee Jinhee from materials like corn. We’ll be selecting 20 lucky winners, who will be announced in the third week of August. (Please tag KCCNY or DM us with a captured image of your posting if your account is private.)
Jinhee LEE, The Grand Master of K-DRAMA in Traditional Costume
- The Winner of Costume Design for Ansisung at the prominent Korean Film Award ‘Dae Jong Award’
- One of the most renowned Korean dramas My Dearest, Love in Moonlight, Sungkyunkwan Scandal costume designer
From June 25 to August 16, the Korean Cultural Center New York will host an exhibition <Boundaries of Existence> by Jinhee Lee, a professor in the Department of Stage Design at the Korea National University of Arts.
The exhibition will feature a total of 43 works, including stage design pieces from Jinhee Lee's career since 1999, traditional Korean costume designs for film, and her sculptures, paintings, and media art. Jinhee Lee began her career in theater and has since become a renowned costume designer, creating characters through their "clothing" across various media, including films, dramas, and dance performances. Her collaborations include works with the most prestigious film director, Chan Wook Park’s Life is But a Dream, a historical spectacle film that won the best costume design award Ansisung, and numerous stage costumes ranging from classical works to experimental shows. She is widely recognized for her ability to modernize traditional Korean aesthetics.
In this exhibition, Lee combines sculptural characteristics with three-dimensional media to emphasize a dynamic and immersive experience. Her unique artistic style is based on the craft of 'hand stitching' traditional Korean fabric pieces, creating distinctive sculptural forms. These forms, inspired by early Joseon Dynasty folk paintings, feature bold colors and optimistic humor, delivering a sensory delight through the use of vibrant primary colors. Lee's reinterpretation of Korean modernity and humor reveals her unique aesthetic sense.
Lee's humorous aesthetic stems from her extensive work in stage design, exploring the nature of humanity and objects. Her works embody a free and bold aesthetic sense, reflecting Korea's unique nature-friendly philosophy.
The theme of this exhibition <Boundaries of Existence> addresses the awareness of societal taboos, norms, and the repression of natural tendencies, focusing on the fragmented nature of contemporary society. Lee's work aims to heal and integrate these fragments by concentrating on the human senses, particularly the sense of touch. The act of 'hand stitching' symbolizes her philosophy of connecting and healing fragmented, severed, and damaged elements, offering a return to childlike dreams.
Featured Artworks
Boundaries_ kokdu 11*25*45 (h)cm Silk sculpture
Saekdong (Multi-colored stripes)_The Exhilarating Horse w51*148*109(h)cm Paper silk sculpture
Boundaries_ kokdu 10*24*37 (h) cm Silk sculpture
Blue self-portrait 18*25*40(h)cm Silk sculpture
Red Self-portrait 18*25*40(h)cm Silk sculpture
Clothing_ Red-Colored Boundaries 144*164cm Silk sculpture
Hanbok costumes in the film “Life Is But A Dream” (2022)
Hanbok costumes in the film “Life Is But A Dream” (2022)
Wearing Saekdong (Multi-colored stripes)_The Exhilarating Horse 51*148*109(h)cm Paper silk sculpture
Saekdong (Multi-colored stripes)_The Exhilarating Ballet 117*117*60(h)cm Silk sculpture
The World’s moon and oceans 120*120cm Silk painting
Endorsement: The Story-Weaving Hands
Jinhee Lee's garments narrate tales that extend beyond the scope of the play, creating worlds of their own. Her costumes remain evocative art objects, speaking volumes even after the curtain has fallen. The realms she crafts with meticulous attention seamlessly transition stage costumes into standalone artworks. Observe how her hands bring life to fabric, paper, and thread with vibrant colors. The story begins with each stitch, underscoring why hand-stitching is central to her body of work. Much like a writer weaves a narrative through sentences, Lee constructs her unique stories by interlacing pieces of fabric with thread. Her work captivates because it reflects a theatrical production’s quest to reveal the essence of life through storytelling. Listen closely to the stories embedded in the objects she creates; by capturing myriad tales in these frozen moments, the true power of her artistry is revealed.
Bae Yoseop, Director and Playwright