2005 International Artist in Residence
The Govett-Brewster Art Gallery is pleased to present internationally recognised
sculptor, Lee Bul’s first solo exhibition in New Zealand, Lee Bul: 2005
International Artist in Residence. Recognised for a practice that embraces sculpture
and interactive media, Lee Bul has created a major new installation, Mon grand: because everything . . . , 2005 as part of her Govett-Brewster Art Gallery residency.
In this new project Lee Bul extends her interest in constructed environments and the
ambivalence of surface appearance as a means to comment on humanity's search for
perfection and the ultimate failure of that search. The artist has drawn from a
range of historical and contemporary sources, as well as from her own memories, and
carefully combined these diverse references to create a unique and fantastical
environment. Made from common industrial materials, it is an intricate and complex
structural representation of an imagined city recalling historical conceptions of
the edge of the world. Drawing from sources as varied as constructivist
architecture, contemporary motorway design, and mid-century literature, Lee Bul has
created a monument to the utopian quest.
The exhibition will also include works from Lee Bul’s previous cyborg series. The
cyborg sculptures W2 and W4 (1998) are early examples of her exploration of
humanity's desire for perfection. The idealised forms suggest a human and machine
hybrid, and investigate ideas about the relationship between beauty, perfection, and
technological progress. Also on view is a work from her recent karaoke pod series.
Live Forever III (2001) is a sleek, soundproof pod for one, featuring lush
upholstery and a personalised karaoke setup. Viewers are able to choose from a
pre-selected number of familiar pop songs, which they can sing while viewing one of
the artist's video works.
To support this major exhibition the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery in association with
Asia New Zealand presents a series of lectures given by Jung-hee Kim, international
art historian and Professor of Painting at College of Fine Arts, Seoul National
University. Professor Jung-hee Kim will discuss the work of Lee Bul in relation to
current trends in sculpture and multimedia art.
This exhibition is curated by Govett-Brewster Art Gallery Director Greg Burke. This
is Burke’s last exhibition at the gallery before he takes up the directorship at The
Power Plant in Toronto, Canada.
Govett-Brewster Art Gallery
Queen Street, Private Bag 2025 -New Plymouth, New Zealand