Ikon Gallery's homepage exhibition introduction video capture screen
The Financial Times recently praised Seulgi
Lee, a Korea-born artist based in Paris, for her solo exhibition Span at Ikon
Gallery in Birmingham, UK, describing it as a “humane, exuberant utopian
template for dystopian times.” The show is currently on view through September
7, 2025.
Left: U : Drink the Kimchi Soup = To Hope for Something
to Be Given (<김칫국부터 마신다>), Korean silk, collaboration with
Nubi quilter in Tongyeong, 195 x 155 x 1 cm. Courtesy of the artist and Gallery
Hyundai, Seoul. Right: W / Sa la kwa shunga lachju itzie ske, (Young girl with neat hai). Courtesy of the artist and galerie Jousse Entreprise, Paris (2017). (Seulgi Lee © ADAGP Paris, 2025)
The FT described Lee’s artistic world as
one where “line, colour and curve flow across ceiling, wall and floor,”
transforming the exhibition into a “fluid universe.” The article noted the rare
quality of her collaborative approach, blending traditional craftsmanship with
contemporary visual language.
Bridging Tradition and Modernity, Local and
Global
Lee draws inspiration from a wide range of
cultural traditions, including Korean dancheong painting, Islamic mashrabiya
latticework, and Mexican basketry—not merely as references, but as fully
integrated components of her installations.
Installation view of 《Span》 © David Rowan
Installation view of Seulgi Lee’s 《Span》 at Birmingham’s Ikon Gallery © David Rowan
“Slow Water (2022) is an
ethereal lattice structure that changes color depending on the viewer’s
position, while Flying Buttons (2025) appears like abstract
forms that have landed lightly in the space, ready to take flight again.” — FT
One of the highlights is her ongoing ‘Blanket
Project U’, created with nubi master Sungyoun Cho from Tongyeong, South Korea.
The project encodes Korean proverbs into quilted patterns. A notable example
includes a work titled “My three-foot nose — I’m too ground down to help anyone
else,” visualizing a proverb that reflects personal hardship and limitations.
(left) Lee’s ‘U:A piece of cake = Easy’ (2025) © ADAGP / (right) ‘U:Laugh out loud while clapping one’s hands’ (2023) was made in collaboration with nubi quilter Sungyoun Cho © ADAGP
Honoring Craftsmanship and Collective
Memory
The Financial Times emphasized Lee’s deep
respect for the artisans and communities she works with: “Unlike many conceptual artists who outsource production, Lee credits
and contextualizes every collaborator she works with.”
Her collaboration with basket weavers in
Oaxaca, Mexico resulted in W(2017–18), a sculptural
constellation of handwoven forms that reflect endangered cultural knowledge.
Other notable pieces include Six Pence, an installation of
mother-of-pearl buttons made in partnership with Birmingham jewelry artisans,
and Han, a delicate glass sphere created with Seoul-based
glassblower Jongin Kim, encapsulating a few drops of water from the Han
River—completely sealed with no visible seam.
Span Expands the Distance Between Fingers
Into an Artistic Universe
While 《Span》refers literally to the physical distance between thumb and
forefinger, Lee reimagines it as a metaphor for touch, memory, language, and
shared craft. The FT concludes:
“It is not merely a spatial installation, but
an artistic dialogue spanning tradition and modernity, the local and the
global.”
Seulgi Lee’s《Span》is a compelling example of how a Korean
artist engages global audiences with deeply rooted, culturally rich
contemporary art.
Exhibition Info
Dates: June 25 – September 7, 2025
Venue: Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, UK
Website: ikon-gallery.org
