Close (closed, near)
In contemporary society, private spaces that provide individuals with psychological stability are becoming increasingly rare due to physical changes in the living environment, such as noise pollution between floors and walls, expensive housing, and the rise of social media. In response to this social phenomenon, where even personal spaces that are solely for one's own use are passively determined, Lee has been presenting works that explore the unique relationship dynamics of contemporary society through delicate observations of individuals' physical and psychological spaces and the interactions that occur within them. This exhibition is the first in which the artist rearranges fragments of her existing works based on colour and intentionally creates gaps that gradually widen from dark to transparent. This visualises the paradoxes of human relationships in contemporary society and the 'thin walls' that appear in her works.
Lee creates miniature paper houses using white paper, which is opaque but transmits light well. The artist photographs the houses with light shining through them and transfers the images to canvas. The amount of light is controlled by curtains and time of day. These paper landscapes explore the boundaries between near and far, visible and invisible, and serve as a metaphor for the contradictions of contemporary social relationships, where socially connected people talk about connection and communication, yet aspire to personal isolation.
The exhibition's works appear clearer when placed closer together due to their deep colours, while the essence of the house remains opaque. Conversely, when the works are placed further apart, the landscapes become more transparent, to the point of obscuring their shapes, but only then do they reveal what lies within the 'thin walls'. The artist uses a metaphor to express the discomfort experienced by individuals who are passive in their relationship with others or society. This highlights the paradox of human relationships in modern society, where physical closeness does not necessarily mean emotional closeness. At this point, the exhibition name 'Close' is explored, which contains two opposite meanings of 'Closed' and 'Near' in one. The viewer is invited to deeply reflect on the nature of human relationships as expressed by Minjeong Lee.
Press release courtesy LAB201.
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