The worlds of the unconscious and reality are ambivalent, yet they are closely connected, existing in a state in which they influence each other. Diren Lee uses dreams that reach beyond one’s consciousness as subject matter to unravel the stories of the unconscious and the essence of consciousness on canvas. In her work, characters are expressed as living creatures that embrace or touch each other at a distance, which symbolizes that, although each one seems different, they are a single being intimately connected.
Surveying Diren Lee’s artistic world, this solo exhibition records the appearance of human beings who live with the ego and whose emotions arise from the extremes, like the relationship between the unconscious and the conscious, here embedded in one body taking the shape of a Siamese twin. In addition, through this exhibition, more comfortable glances, and softer colors than before are embodied. These come from her self-introspection as a traveler who now wants to explore the world of dreams, a world she was once afraid of after facing her unconscious.
We hope this exhibition will provide a moment of deep reflection on individual stories. Going on a journey through one’s dream to overcome some of the mental energy, such as anima, animus, and complex, may be the type of art and aspiration that Diren Lee presents to us. We also wish to deliver messages of consolation, warmth, and hope in the expanded context of the exhibition while being able to embrace and look into each other’s eyes through the artwork.