Lee Min Woo: Purism
SPACE776 Seoul presents Lee Minwoo’s first solo exhibition, PURISM, from June 21 to July 20, 2025.
Having long thrived at the heart of popular culture, Lee now stands at the beginning of a new path as an artist. This exhibition centers on his latest paintings and sculptural objects, offering a deep and deliberate introduction to his artistic universe.
Lee Minwoo is best known as a member of the first-generation K-POP group SHINHWA, where he established a powerful stage presence and built strong rapport with the public through television and entertainment. The “clown” he has chosen as a motif is more than a costumed figure—it is a metaphor for the roles he has embodied and the life he has led. In this exhibition, Lee isolates and expands the clown’s red nose into a singular object of focus. This “nose” functions not merely as an image, but as a symbolic structure positioned at the intersection of identity, perspective, and existence.
The exhibition title PURISM explores the idea of “purity” in both literal and philosophical terms—an attempt to strip away layers of pretense and emotion to reveal an essential state of being. If a face is the first point of contact in how we perceive others, the nose at its center becomes a focal point of both gaze and sensation. Through this symbol, Lee draws out the ambivalent emotions carried by the clown figure—between laughter and tears, performance and sincerity, distance and intimacy.
For Lee, the clown’s nose represents both the essence of being and the point of connection with others. Each sculptural nose, varying in form, symbolizes diverse human figures. These works reflect both individual uniqueness and the universal feelings of solitude and longing for recognition that exist within society. Lee’s art acts as a mirror, prompting viewers to reflect on their own identities and emotions in the moment of encounter.
Recommended for you
SPACE776 Seoul presents Lee Minwoo’s first solo exhibition, PURISM, from June 21 to July 20, 2025.
Having long thrived at the heart of popular culture, Lee now stands at the beginning of a new path as an artist. This exhibition centers on his latest paintings and sculptural objects, offering a deep and deliberate introduction to his artistic universe.
Lee Minwoo is best known as a member of the first-generation K-POP group SHINHWA, where he established a powerful stage presence and built strong rapport with the public through television and entertainment. The “clown” he has chosen as a motif is more than a costumed figure—it is a metaphor for the roles he has embodied and the life he has led. In this exhibition, Lee isolates and expands the clown’s red nose into a singular object of focus. This “nose” functions not merely as an image, but as a symbolic structure positioned at the intersection of identity, perspective, and existence.
The exhibition title PURISM explores the idea of “purity” in both literal and philosophical terms—an attempt to strip away layers of pretense and emotion to reveal an essential state of being. If a face is the first point of contact in how we perceive others, the nose at its center becomes a focal point of both gaze and sensation. Through this symbol, Lee draws out the ambivalent emotions carried by the clown figure—between laughter and tears, performance and sincerity, distance and intimacy.
For Lee, the clown’s nose represents both the essence of being and the point of connection with others. Each sculptural nose, varying in form, symbolizes diverse human figures. These works reflect both individual uniqueness and the universal feelings of solitude and longing for recognition that exist within society. Lee’s art acts as a mirror, prompting viewers to reflect on their own identities and emotions in the moment of encounter.
Artists on show
Contact details
What's on nearby
