Korean contemporary artist Lee Bul, best known for her large-scale architectural sculptures, is currently showcasing a selection of recent works at Lehmann Maupin’s new Hong Kong gallery (designed by Rem Koolhaas), through May 11.
For this exhibition, Bul downsized, opting to show drawings on paper instead of her vast installation pieces of which she is best known. But, drawings are not the only works on view here; the exhibition also houses two small sculptural forms, one made of painted polyurethane and the others of aluminum, stainless steel, wood, and mirror. The sketches (displayed for the first time) and sculptures reveal Bul’s deeply personal and creative process, allowing viewers intimate access into her practice from start to finish. In many ways, the exhibition is an extension of her personal studio.
Often hailed as the leading Korean artist of her generation, Bul’s work has always defied boundaries by exploring a multitude of different mediums to experiment with form and process: from sculptures to performances and installations. Her past works tackled issues relating to human nature and utopian thought, and this inaugural exhibition continues to do so.
Lee Bul (b. 1964) grew up in Seoul, Korea, and received a BFA in sculpture from Hongik University, Seoul, in 1987. Her work has been exhibited extensively on an international level with solo shows at the Museum of Modern Art, New York (1997); Kunsthalle Bern, Switzerland (1999); Fabric Workshop and Museum, Philadelphia (2001); MAC, Musée d’Art Contemporain, Marseille, France (2002); New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York (2002); Le Consortium, Dijon, France (2002); Japan Foundation, Tokyo (2003); Power Plant, Toronto (2003); Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney (2004); Domus Artium, Salamanca, Spain (2007); Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris (2007 – 2008); and most recently, the Mori Art Museum, Tokyo (2012); and the Artsonje Center, Seoul (1998 and 2012), among others. In March 2010, a permanent installation entitled “A Fragmentary Anatomy of Every Setting Sun” was unveiled at the Hara Museum ARC, Japan. Forthcoming solo exhibitions are scheduled at MUDAM – Musée d’Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean, Luxembourg, in the fall of 2013 and at the Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, UK, in 2014.
