Korea, b. 1982

Renowned for his use of exaggerated anatomical forms and a vibrant spectrum of colors, Lee Hongmin builds his practice upon the narrative of his own life, drawing inspiration from the animations and comics embedded in his memory. Growing up in a somewhat authoritarian environment, the artist found in animation a realm of fantasy—one that playfully subverted the taboos of reality. Through the language of comics, Lee sought to break free from the pressures of Korea’s standardized education system and the constraints of traditional culture, challenging the authority around him and envisioning an imagined world unbound by social prohibitions. Lee’s practice centers on the emotion of anger, exploring its primal force and the questions that emerge in its aftermath. Paradoxically, his works radiate a strange purity amid their explosive energy—a quality born from his profound contemplation of rage and the sincerity of his expression. Since his debut solo exhibition in 2015, Lee Hongmin has continued to present raw, unfiltered manifestations of anger to the public through dynamic solo shows at Gallery Stan and, most notably, his 2020 debut at Christie’s.