HyunJoung Lee

HyunJoung Lee (b. 1972, Seoul) is a South Korean artist based in Paris, renowned for her ability to blend Korean heritage with contemporary techniques. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Sejong University in Seoul in 1994 and later trained as a goldsmith in France, where she has lived and developed her practice ever since.

Drawing inspiration from nature and personal memories, HyunJoung's work is grounded in traditional Korean materials such as hanji (Korean paper), Chinese ink, and Korean pigments. Her artistic process is both innovative and meditative, transforming rice paper into textured landscapes that evoke the fluidity of mountains, waves, and natural paths. Through meticulous layering and manipulation of the paper's surface, she creates compositions that invite viewers into a contemplative journey, blurring the line between the physical and the spiritual.

HyunJoung’s practice is deeply influenced by her background in Korean culture and her training as a goldsmith. She often incorporates the tactile quality of hanji with refined brushwork, using Chinese ink to define intricate line patterns and Korean pigments to add subtle hues that enhance the paper’s natural texture. This technique results in dynamic, abstract landscapes that resonate with the rhythm of nature, inviting viewers to explore their own inner worlds through the visual metaphor of her art.

In 2017, HyunJoung received the Taylor Prize for Capital Art at the Grand Palais in Paris, a significant recognition of her contributions to contemporary art. Her work has been exhibited internationally, with notable showcases at Asia Now (Paris, 2022 - 2023), Tokyo Gendai (Tokyo, 2023), KIAF (Seoul, 2023), Art SG (Sinagpore, 2024) and most recently at Art on Paper Brussels (2024). Her pieces have also been featured at respected events like the Salon d'Automne (Paris), Beyond Borders Art Exhibition (Hong Kong), and the International Paper Art Biennale (Shanghai, China).