J
MI N LEE E A
DAYS OF MY HEAVEN
JAEMIN LEE SOLO EXHIBITION
FEBRUARY 25 - MAY 25 2022 #11-01, ASIA SQAURE TOWER 2, 12 MARINA VIEW, SINGAPORE PRESENTED BY GALLERY HUUE
DIRECTOR'S NOTE
When I visited Jaemin Lee’s studio last year in Singapore, there were a collection of paintings all organized in one of the large rooms of a condo, which Lee has worked on over the years while raising a child. The artist’s studio is located at a quiet residential neighborhood of Singapore with a large pool in the center surrounding the studio like a resort, and I thought this is a haven for Jaemin Lee where she could focus primarily in her work and be delved into her practice. After moving to Singapore and living as a mother and wife, Jaemin Lee who was at the time very active in the Korean art market continued painting and did not forget that it is her profession and passion to be an artist even when no one called for her. Should a gallerist visit the studio at any time unintentionally, Lee would always be ready and prepared. Hence, it was not difficult to have a proposal for a solo exhibition as it was clear that her painting continues to develop and expand despite her years of change. Jaemin Lee is an artist who captures and capable of bringing diverse elements of everyday life visually onto her canvases. She expresses
emotions
of
everyday
life
and
moments
of
experiences from the eyes of a Korean living in a foreign country
on
her
canvases.
Her
inspiration
stems
from
experiencing and perceiving the nature and the surrounding environments that further affect her to become an artist. During her school years, Jaemin Lee researched the subject of matière extensively. While studying in Russia, she was particularly inspired by the expressions of realism masters and how they work with the tactile materiality of paints, in which the artist has progressively incorporating and developing the technique into her practice of painting. She also travelled around the country to sketch the sceneries outside alive and investigated the study of figurines in the studios. Based on all these practices, Lee naturally moved onto a new chapter of her story, now living in a new environment called Singapore. With the unfamiliar and yet unique characteristics of Singapore, Lee’s story is currently based on the life in Singapore. Being a stranger again, the artist now creates new stories that are inspired
from
emotions
and
experiences
in
Singapore
alongside the changes in life. In a typical story, the role of the main and supporting characters are often divided. However, paintings by Jaemin Lee provide a stage for everyone who dreams of, not only for the main character. Such moment is a continuous one where the time is yet to be completed and still in the moment of being created while living the artist’s life that is uniquely in each chapter of the stories.
"I wish I could share my thoughts and feelings at that time rather than throwing any intentions to the viewer. For example, in a diving work, the fear of falling into the water and the refreshing feeling that can be felt after that moment. I want to feel it together as much as possible." Jaemin Lee wants the viewers to "share emotions" and to experience these emotions alongside her works. Numerous layers of oil paints applied on the paintings are consist of the artist’s tactile brushstrokes that repeat the emotional exchange and eventually vanish, but the subtle emotions will continue to remain in the flow of time indefinitely. People sitting or lying down in nature and looking at something, a woman gazing somewhere beyond, and people resting peacefully in an isolated garden as if it is paradise —all depicted figures are demonstrative of the moments and reflections of the artist’s daily routines. Those are the emotions and characters that are instantly captured by Jaemin Lee. Therefore, compared to the figurines from traditional Impressionist painters, Lee's figures have a sense of modern naiveness. In the first place, it is not a work that expresses a noble human being- and because there is no intention to reproduce and reveal everything, Jaemin Lee’s works reminds of traditional paintings but in the way of contemporary painting. Simply look at Jaemin Lee's painting. Elements of the characters have clear silhouettes but have blurred facial features, distinctive facial expressions but vague emotions, and no concrete expression in response to situation. It guides the viewers actively fill the gaps in life that have disappeared and even enable the viewers to see the painting with the experience, senses, and narratives of the viewer. It is never easy to draw, evaluate, or be recognized in the contemporary art scenes saturated with a vastness of media and new concepts, but this is not a matter to the artist. The work does not necessarily have to have a profound idea. Jaemin Lee does not think that art should necessarily be like what is mentioned. However, when looking back in time at current works and think about the new, life eventually asks Lee the same question every time: ‘what kind of present do I live in?’ and ‘what do I think and feel?’ With each question, the artist diligently solves the answer by simply painting another work. The result of each chapter is probably what makes the series so far. Jaemin Lee, who is now in her mid-40s, brings in the practice of ‘painterly painting’- devoting a great amount of time to paint every day to capture the sceneries and sketch ideas with the tools around her to simply paint. She developed her painting techniques by practicing with dry painting in which the result of studying brushstrokes and color itself in depth. This is because making a unique language of painting, which is one of the most essential components, identifies and highlights Jaemin Lee as a painter once again. “I think that experiencing new things is about going beyond unfamiliarity, discomfort, and fear. Beyond that, valuable experiences await. I want you to challenge yourself with life ‘as if you were diving’.” The message that the artist wants the viewers to take away from her work is that no matter how grand the causes or theories are, if it does not hold up in daily life, it will eventually fade away and the revolution intended for the revolution is more difficult not to fail. It is up to those who create ‘small stories’ to connect with everyday life and explore the path of possibility, resistance, and change without elevating themselves to myths. Through this exhibition ‘Days of My Heaven’, we hope that this provides an opportunity to focus and relive in the artist's ‘small stories’.
Crystal Cho, Representative of Gallery Huue
Lazy day, 2022, Oil on Canvas, 112 x 183 cm
Splash, 2021, Oil on Canvas, 91 x 116.8 cm
"I wish I could share my thoughts and feelings at that time rather than throwing any intentions to the viewer. For example, in a diving work, the fear of falling into the water and the refreshing feeling that can be felt after that moment. I want to feel it together as much as possible." - Jaemin Lee
Lazy day, 2022, Oil on Canvas, 182 x 122.3 cm
Tropical Mood, 2021, Oil on Canvas, 80.3 x 100 cm
Rainy day, 2022, Oil on Canvas, 121.8 x 60.8 cm
Tropical Mood, 2021, Oil on Canvas, 72.7 x 90.9 cm
Lazy day, 2022, Oil on Canvas, 183 x 91.2 cm
Tropical Mood, 2021, Oil on Canvas, 116.8 x 91 cm
Walking in the jungle, 2021, Oil on Canvas, 72.7 x 90.9 cm
"No matter how ordinary the scenery is, it's not trivial to me at all. Even discomfort and fear that comes from ahead of creation are special things in my world." - Jaemin Lee
One day in summer, 2022, Oil on Canvas, 60.8 x 121.8 cm
Lazy day, 2022, Oil on Canvas, 167.8 x 92 cm
Splash, 2021, Oil on Canvas, 65.1 x 100 cm
Nostalgia, 2020, Oil on Canvas, 90.9 x 72.7 cm
Nostalgia, 2021, Oil on Canvas, 167.4 x 76 cm
Mirror, 2021, Oil on Panel, 30.5 x 46 cm Mirror, 2021, Oil on Panel, 30.5 x 46 cm Mirror, 2021, Oil on Panel, 30.5 x 46 cm
Under the banana tree, 2022, Oil on Canvas, 60.5 x 91.3 cm
“I think that experiencing new things is about going beyond unfamiliarity, discomfort, and fear. Beyond that, valuable experiences await. I want you to challenge yourself with life ‘as if you were diving’.” - Jaemin Lee
Under the banana, 2022, Oil on Canvas, 60.5 x 91.3 cm Under the banana, 2022, Oil on Canvas, 30.5 x 46 cm
Lazy day, 2022, Oil on Canvas, 91 x 122.3 cm
Tropical Mood, 2022, Oil on Canvas, 121.8 x 60.8 cm
Tropical Mood, 2021, Oil on Canvas, 53 x 53 cm
Walking in the jungle, 2021, Oil on Canvas, 45.5 x 53 cm
Summer Christmas, 2022, Oil on Canvas, 72.7 x 60.6 cm
JAEMIN LEE B
1981
EDUCATION 2005 BA in college of fine arts development of western painting Keimyung University 2002 Certificate of Russia Sankt Petersburg Repin State Academic SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2022 ‘Days of My Heaven’, Gallery Huue Singapore, Singapore 2017 The 6th Solo Exhibition, N gallery in Bundang, Korea The 5th Solo Exhibition, Gallery J-one in Daegu, Korea 2012 The 4th Solo Exhibition, Gallery J-one in Daegu, Korea The 3rd Solo Exhibition, N gallery in Bundang, Korea 2010 The 2nd Solo Exhibition, ‘Hello Stranger’, Door gallery in Seoul, Korea 2009 The 1st solo exhibition, Seocho gallery in Seoul, Korea
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2019 ‘Singapore Affordable Art fair’, F1 Pit Building, 1 Republic Boulevard, Singapore 2017 ‘Breeze Art Fair’, Sejong Center for Performing Arts in Seoul, Korea ‘Art Festa’ Art Fair, Gyeonggi Art in Bella Citta Ilsan, Korea 2013 ‘Print Bakery’, Lotte Gallery in Seoul, Korea ‘Girls, Be Ambitious’, Lotte Gallery in Seoul, Korea 2012 'Face Unlock', Gana Art Jang Heung Art Park in Jang Heung, Korea 'The Multiple Self', Gallery Lee & Bae in Busan, Korea ‘Young Artist Exhibition’, Seoul Gallery in Seoul, Korea ‘Painter’s chair’, Insa Artcenter in Seoul, Korea 2011 ‘The 11th Korean Contemporary Art Festival’, KACF Hangaram Art Museum, Seoul Art Center in Seoul, Korea ‘Seoul Auction Cutting Edge 2011’, Gana Art, Hotel Novotel Ambassador in Busan, Korea ‘Seoul Auction Cutting Edge 2011’, Gana Art, Horim Art Center in Seoul, Korea
Art Revolution 2011', Taipei World Trade Tower Center, X-Power gallery in Taipei, Taiwan ‘Art Festival’, Andong Art Center in Andong, Korea ‘2011 Doors Art fair’, Imperial Palace Hotel in Seoul, Korea ‘Step up’, Lina Gallery in Seoul, Korea 2010 ‘Dobae exhibition’, Door gallery in Seoul, Korea ‘New Start’, Chang Jark gallery in Seoul, Korea ‘Blue Project’, Gallery J-one in Daegu, Korea ‘Young Artists exhibition’, Gallery a-cube, Korea ‘Busan Biennale’, Soul art space in Busan, Korea ‘ASYAAF 2010’, Sungshin Women's University in Seoul, Korea ‘Star & blue Artist Hotel Art Fair 2010’, Millenium Seoul Hilton Hotel in Seoul, Korea ‘2010 Doors Art fair’, Imperial Palace Hotel in Seoul, Korea ‘Daegu Art Fair 2010’, Daegu Expo Korea in Daegu, Korea 2009 ‘ASYAAF 2009’, Sungshin Women's University in Seoul, Korea ‘Dream Project’, Gallery Godo in Seoul, Korea ‘The 1st Momentum’ in Seoul, Korea ‘Seoul Modern Artshow’, Hangaram Art Museum, Seoul Art Center in Seoul, Korea 2008 ‘Young Start’, Gallery Young in Seoul, Korea ‘Art expo LAS VEGAS 2008’, Las Vegas, in US ‘Autumn in New York’, Hun Gallery in New York, in US ‘Korea Daily Chicago’, Chicago, in US ‘RESONANT 2008’, New York, in US
DAYS OF MY HEAVEN JAEMIN LEE SOLO EXHIBITION Gallery Huue Seoul & Singapore #11-01, Asia Square-Tower 2,12 Marina View, Singapore 018961 info@galleryhuue.com www.galleryhuue.com Copyright concerning the exhibition catalogue belongs to Gallery Huue. No Part of this e-book may be reproduced or transmitted without writer permission from the publisher.