Berlin-based South Korean artist Jung A Lee unveils her new solo exhibition, Morning Glory, at Weserhalle Gallery in Berlin. This exhibition invites visitors to step into a world of intimate moments, where personal reflections meet the subtle beauty of morning light.
Morning Glory centers on Lee’s exploration of those precious first moments of the day—a fleeting time that encapsulates feelings of renewal and delicate happiness. For the artist, mornings are an intensely personal experience, a sacred space of calm that she likens to a shared secret between loved ones. Her paintings depict vivid memories of sunlight rippling through her room, casting shifting patterns like waves that blur the line between dreams and reality.
Lee’s work also touches on the multiplicity of meanings that the phrase Morning Glory evokes. Whether it conjures childhood memories of a beloved Korean stationery store or the first stirrings of hope after a long night, Morning Glory captures these varied emotions through her dreamlike compositions. Using wax-pastels and coloured pencils on canvas, Lee’s works resonate with a soft, fluid motion, depicting abstract forms that hint at landscapes, people, and moments that appear and vanish like fleeting thoughts. The sentiment of the fleeting moment, and its intangible nature, is further reflected in the physical presentation of the works, which float off the wall, casting shadows behind them.
The sense of intimacy created by Lee is complex. It carries feelings of responsibility and burden, where love becomes tied to obligation, leading to guilt when attempting to break free. Traditional family relationships often reflect this tension. Despite an emphasis on individuality, the desire for meaningful, lasting connections remains strong in today’s world.
The nature of intimacy has also evolved. Emotional attachment and trust are now key, extending beyond family to include connections with oneself, others, and even abstract entities. Morning Glory reflects these various facets of intimacy, rather than portraying it solely as a source of lightness.
Jung A Lee, born in 1995, has been studying fine art and painting at Weißensee Kunsthochschule Berlin since 2017 and received a scholarship from the Mart Stam Foundation in 2021. She graduated in 2024 and has since exhibited at the Gyeongju Solgeo Art Museum in South Korea and at Galerie Pankow in the exhibition Selbst dann. In 2023, she won the Mart Stam Prize, awarded to graduates by the same institution.
