Installation
view of “Jong Man Ri” ©P21. Photo: Euirok Lee.P21 presents a solo exhibition “Jong Man
Ri” by Hyunsoo Lee, until January 25 next year. In this exhibition, Lee
presents new works in his ongoing series Papastel, which
focuses on his father, Jong Man Lee. Alongside these pastel drawings, he will
also introduce two new series, Farsighted and Headstone.
Since 2022, Hyunsoo Lee has been depicting
his father’s transformation, and in this exhibition expands on this
transformation, reflecting the changes in their relationship and the artist’s
emotions toward his father’s decline. The new works address the inevitability
of aging, exploring themes of vulnerability, memory, and the passage of time
through humor, color, and personal reflection.
Installation
view of “Jong Man Ri” ©P21. Photo: Euirok Lee.The Papastel series,
which can be considered the core of Hyunsoo Lee’s work, utilized soft pastels
to maximize soft and uncertain borders, expressing his father's gradually
fading presence. Additionally, by rubbing the image of his father with his
fingertips, Lee explores both the physical reality of his father and the shared
memories of the past and future.
The new Farsighted
series captures the spaces and objects that his father, now physically limited,
gazes upon. By working without glasses, Lee empathizes with his father’s
blurred vision, allowing the audience to experience this sense of seeing
through his eyes.
Installation
view of “Jong Man Ri” ©P21. Photo: Euirok Lee.The Headstone series
features castings of his father’s head in pastels. Here, the artist gently
molds the father’s head, shifting from a two-dimensional drawing process to a
three-dimensional, sculptural engagement.
Lee’s
work departs from the conventional portrayal of fathers as strong and
authoritative figures, instead depicting the vulnerability and fragility his
father faces as he inevitably confronts aging. This unique approach contrasts
with traditional perspectives on fatherhood, prompting reflection on the
evolving role of fathers in contemporary society.
Ji Yeon Lee has been working as an editor for the media art and culture channel AliceOn since 2021 and worked as an exhibition coordinator at samuso (now Space for Contemporary Art) from 2021 to 2023.
