Jung Lee, a South Korean contemporary artist born in 1972, is recognized for her contributions to the cover design of Maroon 5’s album “V” and the Saint Laurent advertising campaign in Seoul. Her educational background includes a degree in Journalism and Communication in Korea and advanced studies in photography at the Kent Institute and the Royal College of Art in the United Kingdom. The artist has participated in various solo and group exhibitions, as well as national and international fairs and festivals. Notably, her outstanding artistic achievements earned her a spot in the “Critics Picks” of “ARTFORUM,” a renowned international art review, in both 2021 and 2022, garnering significant attention and acclaim abroad.
In early 2023, Jung Lee presented her first solo exhibition in her home country in seven years at S2A. The exhibition featured a diverse collection of works, including her flagship series “Aporia,” the newly created “Neon” series, and neon installations.
Jung Lee’s experiences living as a foreigner in the United Kingdom during her studies prompted her to reflect on the limitations of language, which ultimately led to her exploration of artistic expression. Her fascination with text took shape in the form of three-dimensional installations using neon, which later evolved into her photographic work. The artist’s creative process begins with the collection of commonly used love words found in literature, movie dialogues, and song lyrics in her surroundings. She then travels to raw and unrefined landscapes, where she can incorporate neon into the natural scenery. By tirelessly observing the tides crossing on the beach or desolate spaces swept by snowstorms and winds, the artist captures the desired moment. The fragile yet vivid neons, juxtaposed against rough and unrefined landscapes of immeasurable scale, reveal deep ironies and contradictions of the unconscious that cannot be fully expressed through words, ultimately immersing the viewer in a profound sensory experience.
Jung Lee’s “Aporia” series, which serves as a representation of the artist’s identity and direction, draws inspiration from Roland Barthes’ (1915-1980) “Fragments of a Lover’s Discourse”. This series explores the dilemmas individuals experience when attempting to express their love through commonplace phrases and expressions, leading them to fall in love with the notion of love itself rather than the object of their affection. To capture the complex and subtle emotions surrounding human love, the artist employs expressions such as “I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART,” “YOU STOLE MY HEART AWAY,” and “I AM LOST IN YOU,” illuminating the paradoxical nature of love.
Jung Lee’s “Neon” series is a recent addition to her oeuvre, and it draws its inspiration from the process of making neon signs by neon craft workers. In this series, the artist depicts the process of “Bending” as the central focus, where neon tubes are bent and shaped to give life to letterforms. The artist refers to this process as the “language of neon.” The characters that embody the “language of neon” are painted in black on a white background and possess a striking presence even without illumination. This aspect reveals a profound irony and contradiction inherent in the raw and unrefined nature, offering a unique portrayal of this medium and a tribute to its rich history.
Within the context of her solo exhibition, Jung Lee unveiled a striking neon artwork entitled “SOMEWHERE BETWEEN DAY AND NIGHT,” which also served as the exhibition’s title. The artist believes that the intersection of day and night represents a moment of inspiration, creating the ideal opportunity for neon and natural light to blend seamlessly, thus capturing the essence of her artwork. Through this expression, “SOMEWHERE BETWEEN DAY AND NIGHT”, the artist expresses the synthesis of her past artistic journey while simultaneously expressing her fascination for the journey yet to come.
