Lee Jinju graduated from the Department of Eastern Painting at Hongik University (2003) and completed a master’s course at its graduate school. She has been working as an exclusive artist at Arario Gallery and works in Seoul.
It is
not easy to present a meaningful exhibition at a commercial gallery, as
commercial success tends to take priority. This is especially true for group
exhibitions. Not only is it difficult to coherently connect the distinct
artistic worlds of multiple artists, but the added condition that only
“sellable works” must be included further reduces the likelihood.
“Forms
of the Soul,” which opened on the 5th of last month at White Cube in
Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, is a rare case. The venue is the Korean branch
of White Cube, one of the world’s leading galleries, located on the first floor
of the Horim Art Center. The exhibition was curated by Susan May, Global
Artistic Director of White Cube and former curator at Tate Modern.
Drawing
on Aristotle’s assertion that “the body and mind cannot be separated and
influence each other,” the exhibition adopts the theme of “the relationship
between body and mind,” bringing together works by artists who explore this
idea.
The
exhibition space is modest in scale yet emphasizes the pristine white walls
characteristic of a “White Cube.” It is composed of two connected rectangular
galleries. The most prominent inner space features a work by Tracey Emin (60),
one of White Cube’s representative artists. Works by internationally renowned
artists—including Belgian sculptor Berlinde De Bruyckere, Germany’s Katharina
Fritsch and Marguerite Humeau, and the UK’s Louise Giovanelli—are also on view.
Another
notable aspect of the exhibition is the inclusion of Korean artist Lee Jinju.
Her ‘black painting’ series—featuring finely rendered fragmented body parts
such as hands and faces against a pure black background—is exhibited. The
gallery emphasized that her inclusion is not a “Korean quota” aimed at catering
to local collectors and audiences. Curator Susan May remarked, “She is one of
the most interesting artists we are paying attention to.” The exhibition runs
through December 12.
