Soh Young Lee

Your work explores the balance between beauty and struggle, especially in the context of pregnancy and motherhood. What initially inspired you to address this theme through art?

My long-standing interest lies in the collision and combination of words with opposing meanings. This duality reflects a natural relationship in the real world, where we often find that nothing can be viewed from a single perspective.

My work is deeply rooted in my personal experiences, particularly the complex emotions surrounding motherhood and pregnancy. While there is a fantasy associated with these themes, I also confront the real challenges and the indirect connections to my identity. Initially, I focused on my own intricate feelings and the shocking perspectives that arise when I juxtapose the idealized notions of pregnancy and nurturing against my existence in a competitive, fast-paced world.

For example, in my piece “A Deep Breath”, I explore portraits of pregnant individuals navigating the complex challenges of a burnout-driven society. Through this exploration, I delve into the beauty and struggle inherent in these experiences, employing strong contrasts in color, pose, and brightness to evoke the emotional complexity of motherhood. Ultimately, I hope to create a dialogue that resonates with many and encourages reflection on the multifaceted nature of these experiences.

Soh Young Lee | Deep Breath | 2024

How has your personal experience of motherhood influenced your creative process and visual language?

My personal experience of motherhood has profoundly motivated me and sparked new ideas and images for my artworks. For instance, I often encountered comments like, “Why do you insist on breastfeeding when formula is easier and more convenient?” In today’s world, the formula is well developed and widely accepted, reflecting a preference for efficiency over the natural aspects of life. This disconnect in perspectives compelled me to reflect on the differing viewpoints surrounding motherhood.

To process these thoughts, I began recording my unique experiences and the words I heard in my diary, along with sketches of ideas. This practice evolved into collage work, allowing me to capture significant moments and images that reflect my journey. The interplay of these elements has enriched my creative process and visual language, enabling me to convey the complexities of motherhood through my art.

In your statement, you mention integrating Korean historical culture and artifacts into your contemporary practice. Could you share an example of how tradition appears in your recent works?

In my statement, I mentioned integrating Korean historical culture and artifacts into my contemporary practice. I believe there are long-standing narratives that idealize motherhood and womanhood, deeply resonating with the Korean sentiment of ‘Han’. This term refers to the traditional feelings of Korean women who often could not express their genuine emotions, suffering silently both mentally and emotionally.

To explore this connection, I have been researching the “Herstory” of South Korea to uncover the stories of women who faced sadness and hardship. I aim to link these emotions to the experiences of past women who lived under more challenging circumstances, seeking healthier, more natural ways of thinking that can inform both the past and the present.

Additionally, I have connected with artifacts that tell the stories of independent women. For example, in my recent work, one of the “A Deep Breath” series, I incorporated the face of the Ungnyeo artifact (the mother of the first king of South Korea) into the artwork to reflect these narratives. This choice allows me to explore the connections between the past and the present, highlighting the silent struggles women have faced throughout history.

Through this exploration, I hope to uncover the most natural feelings about love and life. In today’s society, many decisions are made based on effectiveness or individualism, often overshadowing values such as respect for life, love, and sacrifice. I want to understand what spiritually healthy values we may have lost, whether such values existed in the past, and why the natural practice of breastfeeding is facing extinction in modern times. This pursuit drives my work and informs my artistic expression.

Soh Young Lee | Deep Breath | 2024

Many of your paintings use vivid colors and strong contrasts. What role do these visual elements play in conveying emotional depth or tension?

Many of my paintings utilize vivid colors and strong contrasts, which I believe are crucial in conveying emotional depth and tension. One of painting’s strengths lies in its ability to enhance meaning through visual effects. I strive to explore the sense of unfamiliarity that color and contrast can evoke.

I intentionally choose unusual colors and reconsider their application, often twisting my thoughts and altering the colors again. If a color choice makes me feel that something is off or strange, that becomes my criterion for selection. The effect I aim to achieve is to capture the viewer’s attention, evoke uncomfortable emotions, and provoke contemplation about what the painting expresses. I want the audience to pause and reflect on the work.

Moreover, I believe that just as complex emotions and thoughts collide meaningfully, colors should also crash. I think contrasts in light and shadow should collide as well. From a material perspective, I am currently planning and experimenting with various techniques to explore these ideas further.

Modern Korean society faces challenges such as a declining birth rate and shifting gender roles. How do you reflect these societal issues in your art?

As a Korean woman, I find that even a single word I hear reflects the atmosphere of society and its predominant thoughts and values. I believe my personal emotions and thoughts do not exist in isolation; the societal climate around me influences them. Significant issues, such as declining birth rates and shifting gender roles, frequently arise in conversations with friends, serving as both conscious and unconscious fragments and materials for my work. I strive to express body poses and movements that relate to suppressed perspectives and changing roles.

I also believe that art continually evolves. While my initial steps may stem from the confusion I directly experience, I am now in a phase of tracing back and clarifying my thoughts. The keywords and concepts that emerge reveal that an individual’s experience does not end with them; it connects to society, ideologies, history, and the lives of family and friends.

Consequently, my artworks are evolving into various forms, including animations, painting series, collages, and three-dimensional pieces. This evolution reflects not only my personal journey but also the collective narratives of women navigating the complexities of modern Korean society.

Soh Young Lee | Deep Breath | 2024

Could you describe the emotional or psychological space you aim to create for viewers who encounter your work?

I hope that viewers experience a sense of discomfort yet find themselves unable to tear their gaze away from the pregnant individuals depicted in my work. I encourage them to reflect on the dual meaning of the title “A Deep Breath.” While breath is essential for sustaining life, a deep breath can also signify hardship and suffocation. This title embodies the collision between life and death as individuals navigate their journeys through these experiences.

It represents the clash between ideals and reality, the transformative responsibility of nurturing new life, and the vulnerability of capable individuals when their productive functions diminish. In such a society where one’s status and position can be precarious, I believe that contemporary viewers can resonate with and understand the emotions and thoughts that arise during times of significant upheaval.

Through this exploration, I aim to create a space for introspection, prompting viewers to confront their own feelings about life, responsibility, and the societal pressures that shape our experiences. My work invites them to engage with these themes on a personal level, fostering a deeper understanding of the complexities of existence.

How has your time studying and exhibiting internationally (in South Korea, the U.S., and Canada) affected your artistic identity and worldview?

My time studying and creating art at university has laid the foundation for my current work, and I believe that continued education is essential for deeper research and artistic creation. It also provides an opportunity to see how my work resonates with and evokes empathy from different audiences.

Conversations with people in the U.S. and Canada have made me realize that the issues I grapple with are not unique to Korea. For instance, during a discussion with colleagues in the U.S., I was struck by the similarities in our concerns about identity and cultural representation, despite our different backgrounds. This realization has deepened my understanding that problems between countries are interconnected, revealing a shared consciousness and experience among us. It has sparked a desire to learn more about the unique cultures and related issues of other countries. I believe that international experience is significant. As an artist, I strive to engage with diverse perspectives and ideas, allowing myself to encounter new viewpoints that inspire growth and expansion. Therefore, I actively seek international exhibition opportunities to connect with other artists and to reflect on my thoughts and position within the current global context. This engagement serves as both a source of stimulation and a way to affirm my place in the world, and I look forward to exploring collaborative projects that reflect this interconnectedness in the future.