Yewon Lee

Numerous emotions arise in adapting to society's demands­­­. An individual cannot help but experience feelings of inconsistency and alienation without being fully or completely understood by others. That's why we learned to survive by comforting, empathising, and supporting each other rather than being isolated. Still, behind that, anxiety is hidden in our existence as ourselves, which is difficult to describe. We know how easily the contrasting emotions that seem incompatible can change depending on our situation, how unclear the boundaries are once we face the moment.

My work visualises the process of redefining and exploring my identity every moment. We communicate and define our identity with others within the regulations or terms created by the society we belong to. There is a difference between my identity defined and stipulated in Korea compared to London, so that my identity, defined by myself, can change depending on the social context. Just as society changes with time and people's perceptions, I thought that my identity, which I define myself, is shape-shifting either by me or society. I realised that my self-defined identity is not an absolute invariant identity, but it can be subjective, relative, and temporary depending on the society.

What I want to visualise through my work is not an identity that has settled in one place but a record of my identity that cannot be defined and is being redefined and explored every moment. Through the indefinable creatures in my work, I want to record the image of myself that I portrayed at that moment —to be changed and redefined into another embodiment.