Dogs have long shared a history as companions to humans and have been depicted as significant beings across various cultures.
Lee Seounghee explores the special bond between humans and dogs through history and folklore, transforming these narratives into imagery. Capturing the imagination woven between humans and animals, she creates bronze sculptures that reflect this connection.
Doggie 1 is a title that playfully combines the words "doggie" and "Togi (pottery)" from the Silla period, referencing the humorous terracotta artifacts excavated from that era. Appearing as a kind of guardian, this hybrid figure blurs the boundary between humans and animals, ultimately becoming an artisticicon that symbolizes protection and companionship.
Lee explores the relationship between humans and non-humans, as well as the possibilities of coexistence, creating works that reflect the various forms of connection we can establish with dogs. She unravels and reconstructs the entanglements between humans, animals, and the world, translating them into diverse objects and paintings. The artist's wishes and aspirations are inscribed into the timeless medium of bronze. The long history shared between humans and dogs and the ongoing narratives of their companionship— though ever-evolving— are woven into her works, inviting us to explore new possibilities.