LEE Seung Ae(b.1979) visualizes the existence of the unknown through her monochrome-style works using only pencil and paper. With a deep interest in intangible elements that exist between the external and internal worlds such as energy, feelings, light, and sound, she creates a new dimension of time and space through highly-detailed, largescale drawings, animations, murals, and installations. LEE expresses the fateful agony of being situated between imagination and reality in her practice. In an attempt to transcend the physical limitation of pencil drawings, the artist developed her own unique style by continually experimenting with different ways of visualizing the intangible realm. This has resulted in works that embody not only warmth and familiarity but also discomfort and strangeness—revealing a sense of ambivalence.
Read MoreLEE Seung Ae received her MFA from Royal College of Art (London, UK) and currently works across London and Seoul. Attracting public attention through her unique "Monster" drawing series, the artist has held solo exhibitions at various institutions such as Chapter II (Seoul, Korea) in 2020, Amado Art Space (Seoul, Korea), De Art Center (Beijing, China), Korean Cultural Center UK (London, UK) in 2018, Marlborough Fine Art (London, UK) in 2017, Arario Gallery (Seoul, Korea) in 2012, and Doosan Gallery (Seoul, Korea) in 2011, as well as group exhibitions including "Dancing Queen" at Arario Gallery (Cheonan, Korea) in 2020, "Phantom Mode" at Chapter II (Seoul, Korea) in 2019, "Anima Mundi Festival" at Palazzon Ca'Zanardi (Venice, Italy) in 2017, "RCA Secret" at Gulbenkian Gallery (London, UK) and Art Dubai (Dubai, UAE) in 2016. LEE was awarded the Valerie Beston Artists' Trust Prize (London, UK) in 2016 and GUCCI Young Artist Grant (Seoul, Korea) in 2013.
Text courtesy Arario Gallery.
