Monthly Art — By Insung Um

Seounghee Lee (b. 1994) steadily explores the bond between humans and dogs, presenting them not merely as pets but as divine others capable of perceiving emotions before humans do. Moving fluidly between ancient myths, astrology, and everyday encounters, Lee constructs a distinctive world through both painting and sculpture.

In She and She (2025), a seated figure gazes forward as multiple dogs gather at her feet, embodying fragments of memory and repressed selves—both familiar and threatening in deep blue and fluorescent green hues. Liae’s Desk (2025) presents a quieter tableau: a white dog sits at the center, surrounded by objects like a feather, glass, and clock, silently posing existential questions to the viewer. Her works suggest that emotions are not fleeting but linger in the body, guiding us to trace inner landscapes shaped by relationships with the “other.”

Lee’s practice balances sincerity and subtlety, never indulging hyperbole. Beyond emotion and relationships, her works embrace the ineffable and spiritual, permeated with warmth and humor. In this way, she offers a mode of resilience—an art that connects us with that which cannot be seen.

Credits
Published by Monthly Art (월간미술)
Editor-in-Chief: Jieon Shim
Editors: Jaeyoung Kang, Malgeum Kim, Soyoung Chung, Sujin Hwang, Jaemin Noh, Taegyun Yoon
Supported by: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korea Arts Management Service
Design: Monthly Art Editorial Team
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