Hye Rim Lee is involved in critical exploration of questions dealing with modern visual culture from a complex point of view in which different approaches are used. The graphics used inevitably refer to the Manga tradition, but are mixed with Western aesthetic ideals, thus giving life to transgender, transcultural characters who live in an imaginary world governed by testosterone.
Read MoreThrough an exploration of videogame dynamics, intended for a male public, and a fascination with new technologies, the artist has used a different outlook to analyse some aspects of popular culture, globalization and especially femininity in relation to the media. Through her numerous works she demonstrates that the exploitation of the female body is still very much a relevant question. She has promised a continuation of her challenge to what she calls the “phallic motivations” of dominant cyber culture, computer gaming, contemporary myth and animamix in the engagement with high technology and popular culture. She also has a demonstrated ability as both an innovator capable of utilizing both new and old media, along with the latest technologies, as well as an exceptional ability to form and utilize international networks.
Lee’s work has been exhibited widely in the major solo and group exhibitions at: Kukje Gallery, Seoul; Max Lang Gallery, NY; Gallerie Volker Diehl, Berlin; Monte Clark Gallery, Vancouver; MoCA Shanghai; Today Art Museum, Beijing; Fundacio Joan Miro, Barcelona; Starkwhite, Auckland; San Jose Museum of Art; Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea; Govett Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth; Adam Art Gallery Wellington; numerous collateral exhibitions in the 54th Venice Biennale and the 53rd Venice Biennale, Incheon Womens Art Biennale, Animamix Biennale, The World Expo 2010 Shanghai and artfairs including Basel, FIAC, Frieze, Armory Show, Basel Miami, Art HK. She won the artist residency: Ssamzie Space Seoul and ISCP New York. She was awarded funding from Creative New Zealand, NZ Film Commission, and Asia New Zealand Foundation. TOKI Does New York, a documentary about Hye Rim Lee was made in 2008.
Lee has been working with 3D animation since 2002 but her creative outputs have included other forms of computer-generated imagery as well as digitally outputted photographs. Over the past ten years she has produced many bodies of work arising from her TOKI/Cyborg Project testifying to her unquestioned ability to produce complex works that are conceptually based, content rich and with a distinctive aesthetic. They include: Strawberry Garden (2011), Crystal Candy High Gloss Dolls (2010), Crystal City Spun (2008), Crystal City (2007-2008), Obsession/Love Forever (2007), Candyland (2006); Prince G (2006), Lash (2005), Powder Room (2005), Super Toy (2005), Cut For Beauty (2005), BOOM BOOM: super heroine super beauty (2004), TOKILAND (2003); The Birth of TOKI: hundreds and thousands (2003) and TOKI/Cyborg (2002). The artist lives and works in New York, Auckland, and Seoul.
