"I was confused, scared and at a loss, and I used optical illusion to express my emotional state", says Lee. By changing the dimensions of sewing tools, she gave everyday, mundane items a disquieting and almost aggressive air. "I tried to evoke the fear we feel when facing changes to the environment we are familiar with, and also the unforeseen difficulties which may lie in wait nearby," she explains. Lee calculated the proportions and drew the whole set by hand.
Panic Room (2010) —
"I was confused, scared and at a loss, and I used optical illusion to express my emotional state", says Lee. By changing the dimensions of sewing tools, she gave everyday, mundane items a disquieting and almost aggressive air. "I tried to evoke the fear we feel when facing changes to the environment we are familiar with, and also the unforeseen difficulties which may lie in wait nearby," she explains. Lee calculated the proportions and drew the whole set by hand.
Courtesy JeeYoung Lee
The lotus flower represents birth and resurrection in various cultures including in Korea. It is also thought to have a purifying effect, an association which Lee applied to her life: "I wanted to show my personal experience of being born again by overcoming negative elements that had dragged me down, and cleansing myself emotionally," she explains.
Resurrection (2011) —
The lotus flower represents birth and resurrection in various cultures including in Korea. It is also thought to have a purifying effect, an association which Lee applied to her life: "I wanted to show my personal experience of being born again by overcoming negative elements that had dragged me down, and cleansing myself emotionally," she explains.
Courtesy JeeYoung Lee
In "Nightscape" Lee used a traditional handmade paper to depict traditional Korean landscapes.
Nightscape (2012) —
In "Nightscape" Lee used a traditional handmade paper to depict traditional Korean landscapes.
jee young lee
Seoul-based artist Jeeyoung Lee documents her dreams, memories, and emotions by building thematic sets, and photographing herself as a character on set.
Meditation (2016) —
Seoul-based artist Jeeyoung Lee documents her dreams, memories, and emotions by building thematic sets, and photographing herself as a character on set.
jee young lee
In the "Meditation," Lee depicted a girl traveling towards unknown destination. "In life, sometimes we stop to take a deep breath and to think of a solution. I wanted to represent that situation through this scene."
Meditation (2016) in progress —
In the "Meditation," Lee depicted a girl traveling towards unknown destination. "In life, sometimes we stop to take a deep breath and to think of a solution. I wanted to represent that situation through this scene."
jee young lee
Lee often uses her childhood memories as her source of inspiration. "I've brought the material from my childhood memory of playing with dandelion puffs," says Lee.
Breeze (2016) in progress —
Lee often uses her childhood memories as her source of inspiration. "I've brought the material from my childhood memory of playing with dandelion puffs," says Lee.
jee young lee
Combined with a black and white color scheme, the installation represents indefinite longing, hope, and purity.
Breeze (2016) —
Combined with a black and white color scheme, the installation represents indefinite longing, hope, and purity.
jee young lee
"There lies a lot of desire in our lives; it's a mix of essential desires that become a driving force of life, and an excessive amount of toxic desires." Through an installation inspired by molecular structures, the artist shows complex and tangled desires spreading out, while placing herself in the middle of her complex web.
Desire (2016) —
"There lies a lot of desire in our lives; it's a mix of essential desires that become a driving force of life, and an excessive amount of toxic desires." Through an installation inspired by molecular structures, the artist shows complex and tangled desires spreading out, while placing herself in the middle of her complex web.
01 Mac_Pro
Lee also showcased a video of her destructing the "Desire" installation. She aimed for a pun, since it literally is a destruction of desire, as the title suggests. "The video represents a situation where we have to destroy unnecessary desires in life."
The Destruction of Desire (2016) —
Lee also showcased a video of her destructing the "Desire" installation. She aimed for a pun, since it literally is a destruction of desire, as the title suggests. "The video represents a situation where we have to destroy unnecessary desires in life."
jee young lee
Lee told CNN that she gets mixed feelings while destroying her months-long work. "I regret that my work is gone, but I kind of feel great because I'm sending my memory back to the past by destroying it."
The Best Cure (2007) —
Lee told CNN that she gets mixed feelings while destroying her months-long work. "I regret that my work is gone, but I kind of feel great because I'm sending my memory back to the past by destroying it."
jee young lee
For this work, Lee took inspirations from both her childhood and a Korean proverb. Reminiscing the days she used to play with rose prickles, she got an idea from the Korean saying, "Life is a thorny path."
La Vie En Rose (2016) —
For this work, Lee took inspirations from both her childhood and a Korean proverb. Reminiscing the days she used to play with rose prickles, she got an idea from the Korean saying, "Life is a thorny path."
jee young lee
Lee's take on the "Last Supper" is commentary on competing for resources.
Last Supper (2011) —
Lee's take on the "Last Supper" is commentary on competing for resources.
jee young lee
The flower petals in her work LoveSeek are made of colored Hanji, a traditional handmade paper from Korea.
LoveSeek (2014) —
The flower petals in her work LoveSeek are made of colored Hanji, a traditional handmade paper from Korea.
jee young lee
In this photo, traditional Korean painted fans are arranged to resemble a whirlpool out of which a hand reaches for the rope above. Inspired by the Korean fairy tale of the Sun and the Moon, it portrays a person reaching out for a silver lining.
I'll Be Back (2010) —
In this photo, traditional Korean painted fans are arranged to resemble a whirlpool out of which a hand reaches for the rope above. Inspired by the Korean fairy tale of the Sun and the Moon, it portrays a person reaching out for a silver lining.
Courtesy JeeYoung Lee
It took Lee three months to create this magical nocturnal landscape, inspired by childhood memories of holidays spent at her grandparents' farm in the countryside. The grass is made of craft wire, and every single piece is connected to a mesh screen. Recalling treasure hunting games she used to play as a kid, Lee is 'finding a needle in a haystack.'
Treasure Hunt (2010) —
It took Lee three months to create this magical nocturnal landscape, inspired by childhood memories of holidays spent at her grandparents' farm in the countryside. The grass is made of craft wire, and every single piece is connected to a mesh screen. Recalling treasure hunting games she used to play as a kid, Lee is 'finding a needle in a haystack.'
Courtesy JeeYoung Lee
"Gamer" is one of the few works that features a model that isn't herself. Lee explains that while some of her works portray different people, the scenes still represent her own story.
Gamer (2011) —
"Gamer" is one of the few works that features a model that isn't herself. Lee explains that while some of her works portray different people, the scenes still represent her own story.
jee young lee
Like in all her photos, Lee's gaze is fixed away from the camera, and she acts merely as a prop in a larger narrative: "If the character looked straight ahead, it would make it hard for the audience to inflict their own emotions on the image," she explains.
Maiden Voyage (2009) —
Like in all her photos, Lee's gaze is fixed away from the camera, and she acts merely as a prop in a larger narrative: "If the character looked straight ahead, it would make it hard for the audience to inflict their own emotions on the image," she explains.
jee young lee
This work, in the shape of a beehive, represents emerging and already exploded rooms of her existing scars and growing emotions.
This Is Not Enough (2012) —
This work, in the shape of a beehive, represents emerging and already exploded rooms of her existing scars and growing emotions.
jee young lee
Lee placed herself as one of the pieces on a board game, comparing the set to her life of uncontrollable fate.
Neverending Race (2008) —
Lee placed herself as one of the pieces on a board game, comparing the set to her life of uncontrollable fate.
jee young lee
By giving herself a pair of butterfly's wings, the artist compared herself to a weak creature in the dangerous, jungle-like environment.
Sweet Appetite (2008) —
By giving herself a pair of butterfly's wings, the artist compared herself to a weak creature in the dangerous, jungle-like environment.
jee young lee
Korean proverb "to hit a rock with an egg" served as the basis behind this image depicting Lee's heartache: "Eggs are so fragile and easy to break, so I felt they would be a poignant contrast to the firmness of the rocks," she says.
Broken Heart (2011) —
Korean proverb "to hit a rock with an egg" served as the basis behind this image depicting Lee's heartache: "Eggs are so fragile and easy to break, so I felt they would be a poignant contrast to the firmness of the rocks," she says.
Courtesy JeeYoung Lee
Fears and negative feelings are represented as menacing crows bursting through a door in the floor. "For me large birds are threatening, and the image of their feathers, beak, and curved talons is frightening," says Lee. The doors represent future changes and challenges that the artist will have to go through.
Black Birds (2011) —
Fears and negative feelings are represented as menacing crows bursting through a door in the floor. "For me large birds are threatening, and the image of their feathers, beak, and curved talons is frightening," says Lee. The doors represent future changes and challenges that the artist will have to go through.
Courtesy JeeYoung Lee
At first glance, this image encapsulates the idyllic innocence of childhood. But all is not as it seems, as Lee explains: "The clock is ticking toward midnight, evoking the soon-to-be broken spell from stories like Cinderella, but the girl wants to stay in her comfortable and familiar space. She is unaware that the night sky is cold out the window, and doesn't have a clue about what is waiting for her out in the world."
Childhood (2009) —
At first glance, this image encapsulates the idyllic innocence of childhood. But all is not as it seems, as Lee explains: "The clock is ticking toward midnight, evoking the soon-to-be broken spell from stories like Cinderella, but the girl wants to stay in her comfortable and familiar space. She is unaware that the night sky is cold out the window, and doesn't have a clue about what is waiting for her out in the world."
Courtesy JeeYoung Lee
Lee used paperclips, diminutive objects which bear no threat in real life, to highlight how small worries can compile and turn into a burden we carry through life. The clips, like troubles, are sticking to the figure as she tries to walk away.
Nightmare (2010) —
Lee used paperclips, diminutive objects which bear no threat in real life, to highlight how small worries can compile and turn into a burden we carry through life. The clips, like troubles, are sticking to the figure as she tries to walk away.
Courtesy JeeYoung Lee
Sharp spindly veins seem to be charging toward the pregnant woman in the photo, and the imagery of blood vessels alludes to the inside of a womb. Lee explains: "This work is an expression of my premature self who isn't ready to go out into the world, and it is also a hint at new hope for the imminent baby or possibilities."
Foodchain (2008) —
Sharp spindly veins seem to be charging toward the pregnant woman in the photo, and the imagery of blood vessels alludes to the inside of a womb. Lee explains: "This work is an expression of my premature self who isn't ready to go out into the world, and it is also a hint at new hope for the imminent baby or possibilities."
Courtesy JeeYoung Lee
The artist tried to express her difficulties in communication with some people through a maze of pipes. "I used yellow and black, as those colors are often seen on signs which warn of danger," she says. The black dog in the corner of the picture represents a person who was troubling Lee at the time.
My Chemical Romance (2013) —
The artist tried to express her difficulties in communication with some people through a maze of pipes. "I used yellow and black, as those colors are often seen on signs which warn of danger," she says. The black dog in the corner of the picture represents a person who was troubling Lee at the time.
Courtesy JeeYoung Lee
In this image, over 2,000 hand-painted paper cups are stacked together as bricks of a fragile castle. Lee explains: "I wanted to express the process of heading toward your desire, along with the effort it takes to achieve your dream, which is represented by the star." The glass marbles spread on the floor symbolize fallen stars.
Reaching for the Stars (2009) —
In this image, over 2,000 hand-painted paper cups are stacked together as bricks of a fragile castle. Lee explains: "I wanted to express the process of heading toward your desire, along with the effort it takes to achieve your dream, which is represented by the star." The glass marbles spread on the floor symbolize fallen stars.
Courtesy JeeYoung Lee