suwon lee

“In Suwon Lee’s oeuvre, photography stands out as the predominant medium —though not the exclusive one— employed to delve into the study of light as a physical force capable of crafting images. It serves as both a literal and metaphorical tool, enabling an exploration of various facets of human essence. The interplay of themes such as collective memory, identity, reflections on social crises, the passage of time, and contemplations on our relationship with nature and the environment converges to produce a collection of images that are exquisitely resolved, yet simultaneously disquieting in their tranquil beauty.

In this context, the recurring motif of landscape serves as a conduit for Lee to scrutinize her perpetual foreigner identity and acts as a vehicle for validating certain political realities. Moreover, it becomes a means for self-exploration and a channel for connecting with geographical spaces through a personalized take on spirituality.”

- Richard Aranguren

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Suwon Lee (Caracas, 1977) is a Korean-Venezuelan artist descent belonging to the recent Venezuelan diaspora.


She lives and works in Madrid. She has had solo exhibitions in Caracas, Madrid, and Seoul. Her recent international group exhibitions include Poli/Gráfica de San Juan Puerto Rico and Americas Society New York (2024), the Museum of Modern Art in NewYork (2023), the Círculo de Bellas Artes in Madrid (2021), the GuangzhouImage Triennial curated by Gerardo Mosquera (2021), at the Vincent PriceMuseum, USA (2018), Arizona State University Art Museum, USA (2017), Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain, Paris, France (2013), Amparo Museum, Puebla, Mexico (2014), IX Mercosul Biennial of Porto Alegre(2013), Biennial of the Americas: Draft Urbanism, USA (2013), and many other shows in the United States, Germany, Brazil, Venezuela, Panama, Spain, Colombia, Chile, Seoul, and Paris, among others.

Her works are in the collections of MoMA New York (USA), Patricia Phelps de Cisneros Collection (USA), Banco Mercantil Collection (Venezuela), CIFOMiami, Museu de Arte Brasileira da Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado (Brazil), and various private collections in Venezuela, Colombia, the United States, Spain, Germany, CostaRica, Argentina, and Puerto Rico. Her photos have recently been included in Photography and Korea (Reaktion Books, UK,2023) and Night Fever: Film and Photography After Dark (Koenig Books, 2024)

[How to Measure Time] Time to Be // Pigmented inkjet print // 50 x 72 cm // Ed. 5 + 1 AP

[How to Measure Time] Time to Be // Pigmented inkjet print // 50 x 72 cm // Ed. 5 + 1 AP

[How to Measure Time] Stranger/Undocumented, 2021 // Pigmented inkjet print // 50 x 72 cm // Ed. 5 + 1 AP

[How to Measure Time] Stranger/Undocumented, 2021 // Pigmented inkjet print // 50 x 72 cm // Ed. 5 + 1 AP

[How to Measure Time] Time to be invisible // Pigmented inkjet print // 50 x 72 cm // Ed. 5 + 1 AP

[How to Measure Time] Time to be invisible // Pigmented inkjet print // 50 x 72 cm // Ed. 5 + 1 AP

Catatumbo, 2011 // Pigmented inkjet print // 115 x 153 cm // Ed. 5 + 2 AP

Catatumbo, 2011 // Pigmented inkjet print // 115 x 153 cm // Ed. 5 + 2 AP

[How to Measure Time] Time to be reborn // Pigmented inkjet print // 50 x 72 cm // Ed. 5 + 1 AP

[How to Measure Time] Time to be reborn // Pigmented inkjet print // 50 x 72 cm // Ed. 5 + 1 AP

Chorro II, 2020 // Pigmented inkjet print 100 x 150 cm // Ed. 5 + 1 AP

Chorro II, 2020 // Pigmented inkjet print 100 x 150 cm // Ed. 5 + 1 AP

Purple Haze, 2011 // Pigmented inkjet print 115 x 153 cm // Ed. 5 + 2 AP

Purple Haze, 2011 // Pigmented inkjet print 115 x 153 cm // Ed. 5 + 2 AP

Self-Portrait as Consciousness of Time, 2020 // Pigmented inkjet print // 57 x 170 cm // Ed. 5 + 2 AP

Self-Portrait as Consciousness of Time, 2020 // Pigmented inkjet print // 57 x 170 cm // Ed. 5 + 2 AP

Installation view of "Chosen Memories", Contemporary Latin American Art from the Patricia Phelps de Cisneros Gift and Beyond April 30-Sep 9 2023 MoMA

Installation view of "Chosen Memories", Contemporary Latin American Art from the Patricia Phelps de Cisneros Gift and Beyond April 30-Sep 9 2023 MoMA

Moonset, 2013 // Pigmented inkjet print // 120 x 90 cm // Ed. 5 + 1 AP

Moonset, 2013 // Pigmented inkjet print // 120 x 90 cm // Ed. 5 + 1 AP

The Most Dangerous City in the World, 2011 // Pigmented inkjet print// 115 x 153 cm // Ed. 5 + 2 AP

The Most Dangerous City in the World, 2011 // Pigmented inkjet print// 115 x 153 cm // Ed. 5 + 2 AP

Gradient I (Valencia), 2023 // Pigmented inkjet print // 135 x 90 cm // Ed. 5 + 1 AP

Gradient I (Valencia), 2023 // Pigmented inkjet print // 135 x 90 cm // Ed. 5 + 1 AP

The Darkness of Light, 2013 // Pigmented inkjet print// 90 x 120 cm // Ed. 5 + 1 AP

The Darkness of Light, 2013 // Pigmented inkjet print// 90 x 120 cm // Ed. 5 + 1 AP

Path of Light, 2011 // Pigmented inkjet print // 90 x 120 cm //Ed. 5 + 1 AP

Path of Light, 2011 // Pigmented inkjet print // 90 x 120 cm //Ed. 5 + 1 AP

Burning Car, 2009 // Pigmented inkjet print // 90 x 120 cm // Ed. 5 + 1 AP

Burning Car, 2009 // Pigmented inkjet print // 90 x 120 cm // Ed. 5 + 1 AP

The Isle, 2011 // Pigmented inkjet print // 90 x 120 cm // Ed. 5 + 1 AP

The Isle, 2011 // Pigmented inkjet print // 90 x 120 cm // Ed. 5 + 1 AP

Mr & Mrs, 2021 // Artist book // Pigmented inkjet print on mulberry paper, Two Leporello style books // 1555 x 26.7 cm & 1670 x 26.7 cm //Ed. 5 + 1 AP

Mr & Mrs, 2021 // Artist book // Pigmented inkjet print on mulberry paper, Two Leporello style books // 1555 x 26.7 cm & 1670 x 26.7 cm //Ed. 5 + 1 AP

Oasis, 2009 // Pigmented inkjet print // 90 x 120 cm // Ed. 5 + 1 AP

Oasis, 2009 // Pigmented inkjet print // 90 x 120 cm // Ed. 5 + 1 AP

CV
Caracas, Venezuela 1977

 AWARDS AND ACTIVITIES
2020  . Joya artist residency. Almería, Spain. 
2020-2021 . PIC.A PHotoEspaña Master in Photography and artistic projects in Madrid, Spain. 
2018  . Emily Mason Fellowship for artist residency at Vermont Studio Center, USA. 
2017  . Residencia artística SOMA Mexico. Mexico City, Mexico.
2017  . Residência Artística FAAP. São Paulo, Brazil.
2015  . Berlin Artweek fellowship recipient by the German Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela.
2013  . Artist residency at Nes/Gullkistan, Skagastrond/Laugarvatn, Iceland.
2011  . Young Artist Prize from the Venezuela Association of Fine Artists
2010  . Emerging Artist Award 2009 from the International Association of Art Critics, Venezuelan Chapter.
2009  . Included in the Artist Directory published by the New Museum and Phaidon Younger than Jesus.
2008  . Recipient of the Grants and Commissions Program awarded by Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation (CIFO) in Miami.
2008  . Recipient of the International Young Visual Arts Entrepreneur Award by the British Council.
2004-2015  . Co-Founder and Co-director of the independent artist-run contemporary art space Oficina #1 in Caracas, Venezuela.
2006-2019  . Annual photo trips with German photographer Axel Hütte. 

COLLECTIONS
          . MoMA New York
          . Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros
          . CIFO Miami
          . Colección Banco Mercantil
          . Museu de Arte Brasileira da Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado
          . Private collections in South Korea, Caracas, Bogota, USA, Spain, Germany, Costa Rica, Argentina and Puerto Rico.

SOLO SHOWS
2023  . Window Shopper. Curated by Elaine Tam. Kravitz Contemporary. ( Two-person show with Malgorzata Widomska). London, UK.
2022  . Body Space Time Light. In Our Time Gallery. Seoul, South Korea.
2021  . Landscapes & Self-Portraits. Female Voices of Latin America. Vortic.art (Online platform)
2019  . Ensayo. Nativa Pop-up Gallery. Madrid, Spain. (Three-person show)
2015  . Mukthi Room. Solo Projects curated by Jesús Fuenmayor. Pinta Miami, USA.
2014  . La Casa de Luz. Oficina #1. Caracas, Venezuela.
2014  . Kyopo: Coreanos en Venezuela. Galpón 17. Centro de Arte Los Galpones. Caracas, Venezuela.
2014  . Cosmos. Galería Nube. Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
2013  . Heima. Espacio Al Borde. Maracaibo, Venezuela.
2012  . The benign indifference. Galería Fernando Pradilla. Madrid, España.
2011  . Crepuscular. Oficina #1. Caracas, Venezuela.
2011  . Paraíso Artificial. El Anexo Arte Contemporáneo. Caracas, Venezuela.
2010  . Kyopo: Coreanos en Venezuela. Universidad Central de Venezuela. Caracas, Venezuela.
2009  . Overnight.  Oficina #1. Caracas, Venezuela.
2008  . Bling! Bling! Galpón 1. Periférico Caracas, Venezuela.
2004  . Chinita será tu abuela. Héroes & Trash. Caracas, Venezuela.

GROUP SHOWS
2024  . The Appearance: Asian Diasporas in Latin American and Caribbean Art. Americas Society. New York
2024  . Under Pressure. Poli/gráfica de Puerto Rico. Galería de La Sede del Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña. San                 Juan, Puerto Rico. 
2024  . En Tránsito. Faro Ses Coves Blanques. Sant Antoni de Portmany. Ibiza, Spain.
2024  . Open Showroom. Ivorypress. Madrid, Spain.
2023  . Chosen Memories. Contemporary Latin American Art from the Patricia Phelps de Cisneros Gift and Beyond.                The Museum of Modern Art. New York, USA.           
2023  .Das Weibliche {The Female}. Galerie Heike Strelow. Frankfurt, Germany,
2022  . SERENDIPIA>POST_READY_MADE. Espacio Monitor. Caracas, Venezuela,
2021  . Futures 2021 PHotoespaña. Círculo de Bellas Artes. Madrid, España,
2021  . Guangzhou Image Triennial 2021: Intermingling Flux. Curated by Gerardo Mosquera. Guangdong Museum of              Art. Guangzhou, China.   
2021  . Retratos Confinados. III Circuito Fotográfico del Centro Fundación Universitaria Bellas Artes Medellín, Colombia.
2020  . Encuentros en tiempo presente. Centro de Arte Alcobendas. Madrid, Spain.
2019  . Tierra de Gracia. Beatriz Gil Gallery. Caracas, Venezuela.
2019  . Under Construction. Latin America Narratives in the CIFO Collection. Casa FUGAZ. Callao, Peru. 
2019  . Sudamerican Rockers. Galería Revolver. Buenos Aires, Argentina. 
2019  . Space 1 - 5 Years - 20 artists. Space One. Seoul, South Korea. 
2019  . Ensayo. Galería Nativa. Madrid, Spain. 
2019  . Portadores de sentido. Arte contemporáneo de la Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros. Museo Amparo.                      Puebla, Mexico.  
2018  . Deconstrucción: arte contemporáneo venezolano. ARCO. Madrid, Spain. 
2018  . Soul Mining: The influence of Asian culture and labor in Latin America. Vincent Price Art Museum. Los                          Angeles, California, USA
2017  . Soul Mining: The influence of Asian culture and labor in Latin America. Arizona State University Art Museum.                Tempe, Arizona, USA.   
2017  . Anti-Readymade. Espacio Monitor. Caracas, Venezuela.
2016  . Curiositas Miradas Curatoriales Colección MACZUL
2016  . 9a Bienal Internacional de Arte Bolivia 2016 SIART. La Paz, Bolivia.
2015  . Impulse, Reason, Sense, Conflict. Abstract Art from the Ella Fontanals-Cisneros Collection. CIFO, Miami, USA.
2015  .BIG. Espacio Monitor. Caracas, Venezuela.
2014  . América Latina: 1960-2013. Museo Amparo. Puebla, México
2014  . Panorámica. Arte Emergente en Venezuela, 2000-2012 , TAC, Caracas, Venezuela.
2014  . Gráfica Mercantil. Indagación y seguimiento”. Espacio Mercantil. Caracas, Venezuela.
2014  . Escala. Oficina #1. Caracas, Venezuela.
2014  . Editorial III. El Anexo Galería. Caracas, Venezuela. 
2013  . América Latina 1963-2013. Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain. Paris, France.
2013  . 9ª Bienal do Mercosul. Porto Alegre, Brazil.
2013  . Biennial of the Americas: Draft Urbanism. Denver, Colorado, USA.
2013  . XII Edición Premio Mendoza. Sala Mendoza. Caracas, Venezuela.
2012  . Pedazos de País (II). Oficina #1. Caracas, Venezuela.
2012  . El Quinquenio. Centro Cultural Chacao. Caracas, Venezuela.
2012  . Percepciones en torno al porvenir. Centro Cultural Peruano Británico. Lima, Peru.
2012  . Venezuela en arts. Centre d’art contemporain Frank Popper. Marcigny, France.
2012  . Voyage Voyage. Maison de l’Amérique Latine. Paris, France.
2012  . Invisibles. Diablo Rosso. Panama City, Panama.
2012  . Post-Panamax. Diablo Rosso. Panama City, Panama.
2012  . Repentina. Quinta Paramito. Caracas.
2011  . Continentes, 8va Bienal de Mercosur. Atelier Subterránea, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
2011  . Once Tipos. Sala Mendoza, Caracas, Venezuela.
2011  . Postales Sonoras. Periférico Caracas, Venezuela.
2010  . Reflexiones digitales / Miradas a Europa”. Centro Cultural Chacao. Caracas, Venezuela.
2010  . smART Miami. Miami Dade College. Miami, USA.
2010  . I Bienal  Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo ULA 2010. Mérida, Venezuela.
2010  . Pedazos de País”. Oficina #1. Caracas, Venezuela. 
2010  . Feria Iberoamericana de Arte Caracas. Periférico Caracas, Venezuela.
2010  . Arte D. Periférico Caracas. Caracas, Venezuela.
2009  . ArtBO. Bogotá International Art Fair. Oficina #1. Bogotá, Colombia. 
2009  . Shifting Constructs. CIFO Grants & Comissions Program. Miami, USA.
2009  . XII Salón Jóvenes con FIA. Corp Banca. Caracas, Venezuela. – Segundo Premio
2008  . Reflect/Refract. Rich Gallery. London, United Kingdom.
2008  . Fast Food. Centro Cultural Chacao. Caracas, Venezuela.
2008  . Belong Here. Centro Cultural de España. Santiago, Chile.
2008  . Gabinete de Curiosidades. 9ª Velada de Santa Lucía. Maracaibo. Venezuela.
2008  . Una Rosa es una rosa es una rosa”. Oficina #1. Caracas, Venezuela.
2007  . El Futuro es ahora. Fototeca  de Veracruz y CASA-Oaxaca, Mexico.
2007  . Desconfía”. Oficina #1. Caracas, Venezuela.
2007  . Encuentro Internacional de Arte MDE07. Medellín, Colombia.
2007  . 8ª Velada de Santa  Lucía. Maracaibo, Venezuela.
2006  . Primer Año. Galpón 8. Periférico Caracas, Venezuela.
2006  . Don’t Trust. Wight Biennial. UCLA Arts Department, USA. 
2006  . 63 Salon Arturo Michelena. Ateneo de Valencia, Venezuela. 
2006  . 40º1´N / 3º36´O ARANJUEZ: Paisaje Vivo”. Aranjuez, España. 
2006  . DESCONFIA. Oficina #1. Caracas, Venezuela.
2006  . En la ONG no se fía”. Organización Nelson Garrido. Caracas, Venezuela.
2006  . IX Salón CANTV Jóvenes con FIA. Centro Cultural Corp Banca. Caracas, Venezuela.
2006  . 7ª Velada de Santa Lucía. Maracaibo, Venezuela.
2006  . Café con Leche: Cultura, Migración, Identidad”. Museo de Bellas Artes de Caracas. Venezuela.
2005  . Pequeño Formato. Sala Alternativa, Caracas, Venezuela.
2005  . Próximamente”. Periférico Caracas. Centro de Arte los Galpones. Caracas, Venezuela.
2005  . Occurrences: Artists’ Crossroads”. Chicago, USA.
2005  . En la ONG no se FIA”, Organización Nelson Garrido. Caracas, Venezuela.
2004  . VII Salón CANTV Jóvenes con FIA, Ateneo de Caracas. Caracas, Venezuela.
2003  . VI Salón Pirelli de Jóvenes Artistas, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Caracas. Caracas, Venezuela.
2003  . Contra>Sentido: Nueva Fotografía Venezolana”, Sala Mendoza. Caracas, Venezuela.

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