Keunmin Lee is a brilliant draftsperson. His distinguished talent was almost overshadowed by illness when he was diagnosed many years ago as having borderline personality disorder. For some time, Keunmin thought of himself as defined by this condition, being led to this conclusion by his physicians. But as he has grown in his practice he has learned to see his condition as a creative power, and the hallucinations as sources of creative material. By making this change in perspective, he refuses the label of “pathological,” and instead harnesses his visions as resources for inspired action.

Keunmin’s figures range in their distinctive deformities, but still preserve a dignified charisma that suggests their misshapenness is a fault purely perceived by our self-conscious estimation, an act of “othering” our own self-identified flaws. However, in recognizing these mirror imperfections, there is compassion and hope to be found. Keunmin strips the clean veneer of composure and exposes our mutual vulnerabilities and insecurities in his coarse renderings, not out of spite or for shaming, but in an earnest attempt to forge reconciliation between others and within ourselves.

Keunmin Lee, (b. 1982) is based in Seoul, Korea. He received his B.F.A. from Seoul National University. He had one-person and group exhibitions at the Blume Museum of Contemporary Art, Paju, Cian Art Museum, Daegu, Museum of Art Seoul National University, Seoul and Shin Gallery, New York.