Lee Bul Art Exhibit

What would happen if primitive fears and futuristic evolution met in one place? Art lovers now have an opportunity to peek into that imaginary world at the Kukje Gallery in Sokeuk-dong, where artist Lee Bul is holding an exhibition entitled, "Futuristic Baroque", which will run until June 15.

Lee, who last year was awarded a "Special Citation" at the 48th Venice Biennale, is known for her eccentric works and bold experimentalism. Her works regularly make spectators shudder at the horrors of modern civilization.

From the ceiling of the exhibition hall hangs "Supernova", a huge monster that looks like it jumped straight out of a science fiction movie. Displaying compressed images of insects, plants, and germs spread out in all directions, the piece conveys primitive fears at futuristic speed.

A porcelain cyborg with its arms and legs cut off seems to represent a visitor from a faraway future. The statue's message is that if human civilization keeps on going in its current direction, humans will eventually be thrown away like so much debris, devoid of individuality, character, or warmth.

"My interests are in criticizing the social power structure and modern civilization," Lee said, adding, "the works about monsters and cyborgs convey a question concerning power, as to who will steer the ship in the high-tech information world."

by Cho Hyun-wuk