Lee Jinju Visible 9, 2024

As with other works from this series, the essence of Visible 9 lies in the dark negative space. Covered with pitch-black handmade pigment named 'Leejeongbae black', the work presents a subtle three-dimensionality, focusing on a gentle, flat depiction of the bodies. The realistic figures are reminiscent of Joseon dynasty portraits, capturing facial textures, blemishes, and fine hairs with materials and methods akin to those historical works. Speaking about the work, Jinju Lee expressed: “I believe that hands, just like a person’s face, can express a multitude of emotions and situations...I hope that viewers will spend a significant amount of time in front of these works, immersing themselves with the confronted image...Furthermore, I hope that viewers can imagine the space of infinite possibilities and events concealed within the encompassing black void.”