Lee Lee-nam
Microscopic Sansu - Mountain Dwelling on a Quiet Day
2026 | Single-channel video, LED Display 75”, 9min 23sec | 170.5 × 97.9 cm
Hakgojae Gallery is currently presenting Seeing the Formless, Hearing the Soundless: Pictorial Reflections on Life and Existence, a solo exhibition by Lee Lee-nam (b. 1969), running from Wednesday, September 23 to Saturday, October 24, 2026.
Marking his return to Hakgojae for the first time since 2009, this showcase moves past his established "Image Conversion" series to examine movement and life in their pre-perceptual states.
By utilizing technology to stretch the boundaries of human sensation, Lee takes unseen microscopic vitality as his creative foundation, inviting viewers to engage with reality beyond immediate sight.
The title draws inspiration from an ancient maxim advocating for perception beyond physical forms and sounds, echoing Psalm 19 regarding universal resonance without explicit speech.
Lee Lee-nam
Microscopic Sansu - Inner Mt. Geumgang
2026 | LED Display, Single-channel video, Sound, 9min 23sec | 220 × 480 cm
Starting from water sampled at Yongso Waterfall and examined under a microscope, Lee connects the microscopic world within a single drop to his own roots along the Yeongsan River.
The resulting cellular tracks and organic clusters visually evoke mountain ridges and fluid mists, offering a fresh, layered reinterpretation of traditional sansu (landscape) painting where macro and micro perspectives continuously intersect.
Complementing this philosophical exploration is Lee Lee-nam's distinguished career as a pioneering media artist who bridges classical Asian iconography and contemporary digital technology.
Born in Damyang, Jeollanam-do, Lee trained in sculpture at Chosun University before completing advanced graduate coursework at both Yonsei University and Chosun University.
His expansive portfolio ranges from video installations to major architectural media façades, including landmark projects at the Rome Colosseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Changgyeonggung Palace Royal Culture Festival, and international exhibitions across Venice, Ghent, and Ulaanbaatar.
Having served as Media Art Director for the FINA World Championships and collaborated on high-profile initiatives with Google Arts & Culture and Google Gemini, Lee's work has earned prestigious honors such as the Sun Art Award and is held in premier permanent collections worldwide, including the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, the National Museum of Korea, and the Leeum Museum of Art.
Lee Lee-nam
Microscopic Sansu - Inwangjesaekdo (Clearing After Rain on Mt. Inwang)
2026
Single-channel video, 75” LED monitor
84 × 146.5 cm (Dimensions)
