15 november 2024, Flor Linckens
The deconstructed emotions of Eunsae Lee
Until 21 December, the work of South Korean artist Eunsae Lee will be on view in the front space of Galerie Fons Welters in Amsterdam. Her paintings offer a captivating and nuanced exploration of emotions such as dissatisfaction, boredom, frustration, and anger — feelings hidden behind colourful brushstrokes and gentle forms. Lee channels these emotions into her work, confronting the viewer while simultaneously questioning their origins. Through the universality of these feelings, her work acts as a dynamic and ever-changing mirror of contemporary society.
In her recent oil paintings, Lee focuses on everyday objects and moments that are often objectified. She draws inspiration from leftovers, crumbs, pigeons, and personal experiences such as misunderstandings and bruises. These elements are removed from their original context and presented in fragmented, deconstructed forms. This approach partly stems from the sense of alienation she experienced upon arriving in the Netherlands, where she initially felt unable to move beyond the superficiality of her new surroundings. By painting whatever caught her eye, she began to connect with her environment, giving new meaning to the mundane.
Lee’s works invite viewers to pause and reflect on what often goes unnoticed, revealing the power of the small, the fleeting, and the seemingly insignificant. Her earlier works drew inspiration from Buddhist philosophy, the symbolism of vanitas, ticks, uranium glass, (bodies of) water, female desire and resistance, as well as the tension between empowerment and victim blaming in the context of intoxicated women.
Lee’s paintings are characterised by bold brushstrokes, dynamic colour combinations and a subtle interplay between abstraction and figuration. While her earlier works leaned more heavily toward abstraction, her recent paintings are more figurative, yet fragmentation and layering remain central to her practice. By isolating forms, she creates images that evoke emotions and narratives without being fully delineated.
Born in 1987 in Seoul, Eunsae Lee earned a bachelor’s degree in painting from Hongik University and a master’s in fine arts from Korea National University of Arts, both in Seoul. She is currently a resident at the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam. In addition to her solo exhibition at Galerie Fons Welters, her work is also featured in the group exhibition 'Dream Screen' at the Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul, running until 29 December. Lee’s work has previously been shown at the Ilmin Museum of Art and the Art Sonje Center in Seoul and at the PHD Group in Hong Kong.
