Self Awareness - Cardoon 001 Painting

Lives and works in Paju Kyungmin Lee is a contemporary artist based in Korea, whose work continuously explores the concepts of light, space, and boundaries. Graduating with a degree in Art Practice from Goldsmiths University in the UK in 2012, Lee experiments with new aesthetic experiences that transcend the boundaries of nature and artifice, time and space, the individual and the collective. His work focuses on visualizing spatial and sensory experiences rooted in geopolitical boundaries. Specifically, his time in the military, experiencing life in a border region, and his interactions with North Korean people during his studies in the UK became key moments that allowed him to view the reality of division in a new light. Drawing inspiration from physical and conceptual boundaries such as the DMZ, South Korean propaganda broadcasts, and military spaces, he expands the meaning of boundaries through the interplay of light, sound, white and yellowing, material and data. Through changes in light and surface, he reveals the uncertainty of boundaries and explores invisible power structures and the flow of information through the echoes and distortions of sound. Lee's work is rooted in the political and social contexts he has experienced, delving into the complex interactions within boundaries. The colors and shapes in his works are not just visual elements; they serve as important vehicles for communicating the intersections between his inner world and the external world. Living near the DMZ and hearing South Korean propaganda broadcasts daily still plays a crucial role in his work, with past and present experiences blending naturally into his creations. Through his military service, he experienced tension with North Korea, and during his studies in the UK, his encounters with North Korean people reshaped his understanding of the reality of division. He continues to explore and visualize these experiences through color and form.