LEE Jinju
Video
Biography
The paintings of LEE Jinju (b. 1980) open up landscapes where memory and the unconscious, truth and fiction, and frozen time coexist. Every object and person that appears in her work contains the artist’s gaze, rejuvenating the memories in the process of encounter. LEE’s work begins with repetitive questions thrown in life. The tangible results of this internal exploration process, which originated from these continuous inquiries, are expressed through sharp and geometric, sometimes seemingly ordinary and minuscule objects that have been carefully dissected from the well-constructed framework of daily life and memory. One step further, the artist’s canvas becomes the intermediate zone where boundaries between life and death, underground and surface, day and night are transcended, and the overlapping layers of dense metaphor unravel and sustain a fragmented and shattered world. In this place, the movements of existence escape the dimensions of time and space, randomly infiltrating the crevices of memory throughout various spaces. To LEE, memory is constantly summoned by sensory stimuli. These sensory stimuli allow us to perceive the unseen dimensions more distinctly and serve as the essence of human instinct and the catalyst for artistic creation, capturing the elusive realm beyond tangible forms.
LEE Jinju studied East Asian painting and she delicately depicts uncanny and strange scenes, objects, and landscapes she encounters in her daily life, applying the coloring techniques of East Asian painting. LEE’s ‘shaped canvas’, which represents time, space and perspective through three-dimensional painting, offers a way to delve into the intricacies of the numerous stories within a grand landscape. On the other hand, her ‘black painting’, which portrays body parts such as hands and faces emerging from the pitch-black darkness, presents fragmented subjects in a more eerie manner, showcasing them dramatically. The details that emerge in LEE Jinju’s work goes beyond simply replicating the subject. They capture the artist’s gaze towards the subject and the attitude cultivated through extensive observation.
LEE Jinju has held solo exhibitions at ARARIO MUSEUM Tapdong Cinema (Jeju, Korea, 2022-2024), ARARIO MUSEUM in SPACE (Seoul, Korea, 2020), Triumph Gallery (Moscow, Russia, 2019), Edwin's Gallery (Jakarta, Indonesia, 2018), and ARARIO GALLERY Seoul (Seoul, Korea, 2017), among others. LEE has also participated in group exhibitions at numerous venues including Marres, House of Contemporary Culture (Maastricht, The Netherlands, 2022), White Cube Seoul (Seoul, Korea, 2023), SONGEUN (Seoul, Korea, 2023 and 2022), Jeju Museum of Art (Jeju, Korea, 2023), Korea Cultural Center (Brussels, Belgium, 2021), National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul (Seoul, Korea, 2021), Jeonnam International Sumuk Biennale (Jeonnam, Korea, 2021), Museum of Moscow (Moscow, Russia, 2021), ARARIO GALLERY Cheonan (Cheonan, Korea, 2021), Gyeongnam Art Museum (Changwon, Korea, 2021), Asia Culture Center (Gwangju, Korea, 2019), Gangwon International Biennale (Gangwon, Korea, 2018), Seoul Museum of Art (Seoul, Korea, 2015), Doosan Gallery New York (New York, US, 2013), OCI Museum of Art (Seoul, Korea, 2011), Ilmin Museum of Art (Seoul, Korea, 2010). LEE Jinju received Second Prize of JoongAng Fine Arts Prize in 2009 and Second Prize of SONGEUN Art Award in 2014. LEE's works are in public collections in Korea, in the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul Museum of Art, Gyeongnam Art Museum, ARARIO MUSEUM, SONGEUN Art and Cultural Foundation, and OCI Museum of Art.
Works
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(Im)possible (불)가능한, 2024
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A Certain Name 어떤 이름, 2024
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A Different Beginning, 2024
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A Part of the Island 섬의 일부, 2024
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Act 4 4막, 2024
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Act 9 9막, 2024
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Adhesion 집착, 2024
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Beginning, 2024
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Burning Redness 뜨겁고 붉은 것, 2024
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Composed of Events, Not Things 11 사물이 아닌 사건으로 이루어진 11, 2024
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Composed of Events, Not Things 20 사물이 아닌 사건으로 이루어진 20, 2024
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Composed of Events, Not Things 21 사물이 아닌 사건으로 이루어진 21, 2024
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Composed of Events, Not Things 22 사물이 아닌 사건으로 이루어진 22, 2024
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Composed of Events, Not Things 23 사물이 아닌 사건으로 이루어진 23, 2024
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Composed of Events, Not Things 24 사물이 아닌 사건으로 이루어진 24, 2024
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Composed of Events, Not Things 25 사물이 아닌 사건으로 이루어진 25, 2024
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Composed of Events, Not Things 26 사물이 아닌 사건으로 이루어진 26, 2024
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Composed of Events, Not Things 27 사물이 아닌 사건으로 이루어진 27, 2024
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Composed of Events, Not Things 28 사물이 아닌 사건으로 이루어진 28, 2024
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Composed of Events, Not Things 29 사물이 아닌 사건으로 이루어진 29, 2024
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Erased 지워진, 2024
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Midsummer 한여름, 2024
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Next Season 다음 계절, 2024
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No Ground 닿지 않는 땅, 2024
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Old Memory, 2024
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Upright 서 있는, 2024
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Visible - Fragment, 2024
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Visible - Path, 2024
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Visible - Silence, 2024
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Visible - Sound, 2024
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Visible 22 볼 수 있는 22, 2024
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Visible 23 볼 수 있는 23, 2024
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Visible 24 볼 수 있는 24, 2024
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Visible 25 볼 수 있는 25, 2024
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Visible 26 볼 수 있는 26, 2024
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Visible 27 볼 수 있는 27, 2024
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Visible 28 볼 수 있는 28, 2024
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Visible 29 볼 수 있는 29, 2024
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Visible 30 볼 수 있는 30, 2024
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Visible 31 볼 수 있는 31, 2024
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Visible 32 볼 수 있는 32, 2024
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Visible 33 볼 수 있는 33, 2024
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Visible 34 볼 수 있는 34, 2024
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Visible 35 볼 수 있는 35, 2024
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Visible 7 볼 수 있는 7 , 2024
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Visible 8 볼 수 있는 8, 2024
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Visible 9 볼 수 있는 9, 2024
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Warmth 온기, 2024
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Wednesday Prayer, 2024
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우물 A Well, 2024
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Amongst 중에서, 2023
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Moment 0 순간 0, 2023
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One 한, 2023
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Act 3, 2022-2023
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Blind Spot , 2021
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Deductive Reasoning, 2021
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Five Gaps, 2021
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From the Outset, 2021
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Interval, 2021
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Last Spring, 2021
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Light, 2021
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Seeing, 2021
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The Prayer, 2021
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At Noon, 2020
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Four Questions, 2019
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Remained, 2019
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Unseen, 2019
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Possibilities, 2018
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The Before Before, 2018
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The One Who Knows, 2018
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Unpredictable, 2018
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Dark, Faces 검음, 얼굴들, 2017-2023
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Deceptive Well, 2017
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In the Center Of, 2017
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Between, 2015
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End of the Summer, 2014
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Layers of Daytime, 2014
Exhibitions
Press
News
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[News] Six Directors Share Artwork Highlights at Frieze and Kiaf Seoul 2024
September 3, 2024OculaRead more -
[News] An exhibition commemorating the promotion of Jeongamsa Sumano Pagoda to National Treasure of Jeongseon Jeongamsa Temple of Taebaeksan Mountain Jeokmyeolbogung, "With Oneself as an Island"
August 26, 2024Ha Juhee, Monthly Chosun News RoomRead more -
[News] Korea is narrow for them...Artists born in the 80s who travel abroad
June 27, 2024Kim Seul Gui, Maeil EconomyRead more -
[News] "From Nam June Paik to Lee Sung Ja"...Gyeongnam Art Museum's art collection exhibition for it's 20th Anniversary of its first opening
June 13, 2024Hong Jung Myoung, NewsisRead more -
[News] Yellow ribbon that fluttered for 10 years, when will the answer of the years come to mind... The 10th anniversary of the Ferry Sewol disaster 'Memory, Stare, Wish"
April 14, 2024Ahn Hyung Cheol, Joongboo IlboRead more -
[News] Must-See Booths at Art Jakarta 2023
Nov 16, 2023Zoe Leung, HypeArtRead more -
[News] Art Jakarta 2023 Preview
Nov 13, 2023Nabila Giovanna, Art and MarketRead more -
[News] Monthly Art: Artist Review LEE Jinju
Nov 1, 2023Monthly Art, Nov. 2023Read more -
[News] Lee Jinju on the Subjectivity of Seeing
Oct 10, 2023Sherry Paik, OCULARead more -
[News] Jinju Lee Dazzles During Seoul Art Week and Beyond
Oct 4, 2023Julie Wolfson, Cool HuntingRead more -
[News] White Cube Seoul Opening Exhibition..."Attention" by Korean artist LEE Jinju.
Oct 2, 2023Sung Soo Young, Hanguk KyungjaeRead more -
[News] LEE Jinju at the White Cube Opening Exhibition
Sep 29, 2023Jeon Hye Jin, ELLE KoreaRead more -
[News] A black painting that devours everything, it draws the attention of the art world
19 September 2023Kim Seul Gui, Maeil KyungjaeRead more -
[News] "Dive into Korean Art: Seoul" held, foreign art officials visited artist SIM Raejung's art studio.
6 September 2023Lee Woo Jin, Sisun NewsRead more -
[News] "White Cube Seoul" Opens...First exhibition "The Embedded Spirit" held
4 September 2023Kim Il Chang, News 1Read more -
[News] Arario Gallery Participates in International Art Fair Frieze Seoul and KIAF Seoul 2023 at the same time
17 August 2023Kim Jung Mo, Segye IlboRead more -
[News] Kiaf-Freize Period…Four exhibitions will be held to introduce the next generation of Korean artists
16 August 2023Kim Min, Dong A Biz NRead more -
[News] LEE Jinju: The Embodied Spirit
10 August 2023Park Hyun Ju, NewsisRead more -
[Exhibition] LEEJinju: Already·Always·Everchanging
15 July 2023LEE Jinju's artwork, 'Deceptive Well,' is now presenting in the exhibition ≪Already·Always·Everchanging≫ at Art Center White Block. The exhibition is focusing on the pictoriality of...Read more -
[ FAIR ] ART SG 2023
3 January 2023Arario Gallery is pleased to announce its participation in ART SG 2023. With 12 artists, whose artworks derive from diverse cultures and societies, Arario Gallery...Read more -
[Exhibition] LEE Jinju: Confined Composition Part 1
26 October 2022The solo exhibition by LEE Jinju, 'Confined Composition Part 1', is on view at Arario Museum Tapdong Cinema. 'Confined Composition' is about the 'imperfect act...Read more -
[Art Fair] Art Busan 2022
4 May 2022Arario Gallery is pleased to announce its participation in the Art Busan 2022, which will run from 12 to 15 May. Visit Arario Gallery’s booth...Read more -
[Exhibition] LEE Jinju: Past. Present. Future.
29 April 2022LEE Jinju's works are currently on view at the collection exhibition of SONGEUN. Her work begins from questions thrown repeatedly in life. LEE continuously asks...Read more -
[Exhibition] LEE Jinju: What Makes Me Wander
18 November 2021Works by LEE Jinju are featured in the group exhibition 'What Makes Me Wander' at the Korean Cultural Center in Brussels. The exhibition reflects observations...Read more -
[Art Fair] KIAF Seoul 2021
8 October 2021Arario Gallery participates in Korea’s most important art fair KIAF Seoul 2021 at COEX from 13th October until 17th October 2021. Arario Gallery’s Booth presents...Read more -
[Video] LEE Jinju: Cooking Korean Art
1 January 2021LEE Jinju features in a short interview video, which aims to promote the beauty and diversity of Korean aesthetics by introducing a selection of Korean...Read more -
[Gallery] Season's Greetings
26 December 2020Wishing Everyone All the Best in the New Year from Arario Gallery. © LEE Jinju and Arario GalleryRead more -
[Exhibition] LEE Jinju: The Unperceived
9 September 2020Arario artist LEE Jinju's solo exhibition 'The Unperceived' opens today at Underground in Space, Arario Museum in Space. Through new works made to accomodate the...Read more -
[Exhibition] LEE Jinju: SongEun Art Award_the Final Four
14 December 2014Click here for more informationRead more