_{SUNGHEE LEE}

_{SOUTH KOREAN, b. 1958}

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Born in 1974 in South Korea and now residing in Arles, Sunghee Lee lends his art a unique, transcultural perspective. His latest work, the empty billboard project, boldly reinterprets urban visual landscapes. By transforming billboards into blank slates, Lee challenges us to reconsider our interactions with public spaces and the omnipresence of advertising.

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Lee describes his work as a “free space, like a blank screen, a place to project questionings and fantasies.” But for him, the mere act of emptying a billboard wasn't enough. He grappled with how to breathe life into these static structures, to keep them from descending into monotony. Captivated by the urge to photograph these vacant panels, Lee delved deep into an exploration of dynamism within stillness.

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His process involved photographing the billboards from every conceivable angle and varying distances. As Lee stepped back, the surroundings began to blend into the frame, integrating the billboard into its environment and vice versa. This interaction imbued the billboards with context and a sense of dynamism, turning them into more than just empty spaces — they became part of a larger narrative, interwoven with the city's fabric. Lee’s obsession with capturing the panels brought forth an indescribable curiosity, which he aimed to share through his photographs.

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Lee's approach to photographing the empty billboards adds a critical layer to his project. No longer just voids, they interact with their surroundings, posing questions and invoking fantasies. The photographs transform the billboards into a dynamic element within the urban tapestry, contrasting with their inherent stillness.

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The billboards, now devoid of their commercial purpose, offer a respite from the relentless visual bombardment of city life. In their emptiness, they invite viewers to reflect on the role of public spaces and how we engage with them. Lee’s project isn’t simply about creating negative space; it’s about instilling a sense of wonder and curiosity in the mundane.

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Sunghee Lee’s work goes beyond traditional artistic expressions, stirring a conversation about the saturation of commercial messaging in our lives. By presenting vacant billboards, he encourages us to ponder the value of what’s not immediately visible – the unseen and the unsaid. In a world where every square inch is vying for our attention, Lee’s empty billboards stand as a testament to the power and intrigue of an unoccupied space, urging us to look, and then look again.

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