Tokyo Gallery + BTAP is pleased to present a solo exhibition by Paris-based artist Lee JinWoo. This marks his third solo exhibition with the gallery since his first one-man presentation with us in 2019, and his first in four years.
Lee JinWoo was born in Seoul in 1959. After graduating from Sejong University in Korea in 1983, he moved to France in 1986, completing studies in Fine Arts at Paris 8 University and Materials Research at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts.
Lee struggled during the early days of his life in Paris. One day, he discovered a single bean sprouting in a corner of his studio, and found himself deeply moved by its vitality, in terms of how it was able to grow with only water and a little light. This experience led him to conceive of water not merely as a material, but as a kind of generative source for the cycles of life and memory.
Lee created his “Spring” and “Island” series using a unique technique that consists of applying charcoal to sheets of hemp cloth, layering multiple sheets of traditional hanji Korean paper onto each other and then striking their surface with an iron brush. The distinctive texture that emerges from this repetitive action and the tranquil, monochrome world it creates have earned Lee critical acclaim. In the new series produced for this exhibition centered on the motif of water, the iron brush has been replaced with a thin bamboo stick — a shift that transforms the powerful expression born from the friction of the iron brush, revealing a softer, more delicate rhythm across the surface. This change in Lee’s approach might be read as an effort to deepen the theme of the “fusion of matter and spirit” that the artist has pursued for many years into a more physical and intuitive dimension.
Lee has gained international recognition through solo exhibitions held at various venues including Asia Society France (2022), the Long Museum in Shanghai (2022), and the Daegu Art Museum in South Korea (2022). In 2024, he held a major solo exhibition at the Powerlong Art Museum in Shanghai, and his practice continues to attract increasing attention. Major works are held in collections including the Daegu Art Museum, the Boghossian Foundation (Brussels), Long Museum, and the Musée Cernuschi (Paris).
This exhibition will feature approximately 10 new works, including a large-scale piece measuring 150 × 300 cm. We invite you to view Lee JinWoo’s latest creations.