Lee Soo Hyun’s solo exhibition, 호흡지간 (呼吸之間; Between Breaths), will be on display at the Chuncheon Art Museum from December 20 to 31. The exhibition delves into the complexities of the female psyche within a patriarchal social structure, capturing the tension between imposed submission and the innate desire to break societal taboos.

Lee’s work reflects the anxiety and internal conflict experienced by women caught between these opposing forces. Drawing from her personal experiences with pregnancy and childbirth—intensely biological yet societally suppressive events—the artist channels frustration and neurosis into her creative process. Employing primal techniques such as tearing and pasting paper, splashing paint, and smearing it with her fingers and feet, Lee’s visceral artistic approach brings forth a raw and instinctive exploration of the repressed unconscious and innate human impulses.

This exhibition, supported by the Gangwon Cultural Foundation as part of its professional art funding program, symbolizes “descent” through its focus on horizontality. By twisting and deforming the structured verticality of the human form, the works convey themes of suppressed unconsciousness and primal instincts. Visitors are invited to confront unfiltered emotions of repression and liberation, anxiety and healing, while grappling with the raw, instinctive realities of womanhood.

The curator of Chuncheon’s Geanari Art Museum, Jung Hyun Kyung, remarked on the significance of Lee’s experimental series Deconstructed Drawings. “After marriage, childbirth, and motherhood, Lee has boldly embarked on this experimental journey to reclaim forgotten sensations. This series marks a critical phase in her artistic evolution and represents an essential process for her future works and trajectory,” Jung stated.

Lee’s works provoke an intense sensory experience for viewers, pulling them into her subconscious world where societal expectations are dismantled and primal instincts are laid bare. The act of physically manipulating materials during her creative process mirrors her struggle to reconcile the dichotomy between personal agency and external constraints.

This exhibition offers a powerful commentary on the dualities that define the female experience. Through bold, unfiltered expressions of emotional and physical strain, Lee challenges traditional perceptions of femininity and motherhood. Her pieces create a space for viewers to reflect on their interpretations of repression and freedom, pushing boundaries between the conscious and unconscious.

The raw energy of Lee’s art offers a stark portrayal of the human condition, particularly as it pertains to women navigating complex societal frameworks. Between Breaths serves as both a deeply personal narrative and a universal exploration of identity, inviting audiences to share in the cathartic release of suppressed emotions.

The exhibition is open to the public, free of charge, at the Chuncheon Art Museum until December 31. Visitors can expect an evocative journey through Lee’s deeply personal yet universally resonant exploration of the human psyche.

Sayart / Nao Yim, yimnao@naver.com