Korean Artist Awarded Special Prize at Venice Biennale

Korean installation artist Lee Bul(35) was awarded a special citation at the 48th Venice Biennale International Exhibition of Contemporary Art with her work on a singing room on June 12.
The five-member jury was quoted to have assessed Lee's work as a critical metaphor of Asian women in an ordinary, sometimes boring daily life.
The special citation is usually given to young artists who are judged to have potential.
There were three other special citation recipients, and U.S. artists swept the key awards as Louise Bourgeois and Bruce Nauman captured the most coveted Golden Lions' Award given to the year's best contribution to contemporary art.
A source from the Korean Culture and Arts Foundation said Lee is the third Korean artist to win the special award at the Venice Biennial.
Two other installation artists, Chun Soo Chon and Kang Ik Joong, each won the prize in 1995 and 1997.
Prior to those three, the world-famous video artist Baek Nam Joon won the Golden Lions' Award in 1993 as a German.
Shang-bok Shim : simsb@joongang.co.kr