Lee Kun-Yong

Place: Seoul

Born: 1942

Death: 2022

Biography:

Lee Kun-Yong is a Korean artist born in Seoul in 1942 and died in 2022. He is one of the most influential figures in the Korean avant-garde movement and continues his provocative practice in diverse media such as performance, video, sculpture, and installation. He is known for his performances that reimagine the ways that the body and its movements can be understood across time. He cultivated his highly experimental practice during the 1970s, when martial law and authoritarianism presented a major challenge in South Korea. He is also known for his signature 'event-logical' performances and his paintings, which he calls 'bodyscapes'. In 2020, he joined Pace Gallery, a leading contemporary art gallery.