Hyun Hee Lee

Sunshine Coast Natinonal Art Prize 2024 - Finalist

_{[Image courtesy of the artist]}

Artist Statement

I migrated to Australia from Korea over twenty years ago and have always attempted to retain a connection with my culture through my artwork.  

This work is inspired from memories of my Korean childhood, where origami, drawing, painting and paper cutting were much loved children’s activities. The collection of these gentle memories, often unreliable and fragmented, are filtered throughout my work and expressed as broken and cut pieces of the Korean text re-assembled to create new stories. I have used both the positive and negative shapes throughout my work, reflecting the importance not only of what we remember but also of what we have forgotten. 

The memories of these fundamentally important years inspire a sense of comfort and provoke cathartic and meditative emotions in me, ultimately acting as a conduit to my family and the Korean culture that has shaped my life.