Hyungkoo Lee

Hyungkoo Lee,2006
Anas Animatus; Anas Animatus L; Anas Animatus H; Anas Animatus D
2006
Resin, aluminum sticks, stainless steel wires, springs and oil paint
45 x 79 x 53 cm; 49.5 x 31 x 33 cm; 52 x 28 x 34.5 cm; 52 x 30.5 x 33 cm

Hyungkoo Lee
HK LAB-WR
Performance

1969 Born in Pohang, Korea / Lives and works in Seoul /
2002 M.F.A. Yale University, School of Art, New Haven, CT, USA /
1998 B.F.A. Hong-Ik University, College of Fine Art, Seoul, Korea

"Homo Animatus was an extension of a series of earlier pieces where the artist physically sought to alter – to reduce to cartoon simplicity – his own anatomy. Using plastic forms, enlarging and reducing lenses, Lee created a variety of body costumes that altered both one’s appearance and one’s vision of the real world at the same time. Homo Animatus is, for Lee, the ‘Origin of the Species;’ in a peculiar and devolutionary way, of course, and in keeping with how animated creatures serve as stand-ins for their human counterparts. Canis Latrans Animatus (Wile E. Coyote) and Geococcyx Animatus (Roadrunner) followed and are now joined by Lepus Animatus (Bugs Bunny), Felis Catus Animatus (Tom), Mus Animatus (Jerry), Anas Animatus (Donald Duck) and his three nephews, Animatus H, D and L (Huey, Dewey and Louie).

There’s a whole new bit of forensic activity at work and the viewer is drawn into an exploration of the process behind this reductio ad absurdum." (Howard Rutkowski)

P.P. saw Lee Hyungkoos art at the Biennale in Venice 2007, where he represented Korea. The Queen thinks that his work is impressive, clever, masterly and witty.

http://www.hyungkoolee.net/