Rising Stars: Meet Hyunju Lee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hyunju Lee.

Hi Hyunju, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in South Korea and currently live in Santa Clarita area as I am participating in the Art and Technology program at California Institute of the Arts.

I started my career as an assistant art director in Seoul, but the beginning of my artistic interest was theater and started from high school. I happened to watch a play when I was a high school student and that made me decide to study directing as my undergrad. By studying directing in theater, I was lucky enough to learn artistic approach how to think critically from several professors. I really enjoyed directing, but it was more interesting for me to work as a scenic designer who is responsible for the visual appearance. And that’s how I started my career as an assistant art director. I loved my job but at the same time, I wanted to challenge myself as an artist to develop my own practice. That’s how I decided to pursue my graduate degree at California Institute of the Arts.

The one thing that I love about Art and Technology program at CalArts is that I can make and create whatever I want to. This openness was something that I could not get used to it at first because I didn’t grew up in this kind of environment. However, I am becoming accustomed to this environment and trying not to think about what is right and wrong in terms of making art.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It was not a smooth road to start studying at CalArts. Pandemic affected a lot. I received an offer in 2020, but that’s when pandemic started. CalArts was closed and offered full online course. I decided to defer an admission. I was frustrated at first, but during one year, I was able to work as a designer and study programming various software programs such as processing touch designer.

It has not been a smooth road even after I moved to California to start study at CalArts. CalArts is a school where various students from different backgrounds keep collaborating, making art together, and sharing their thoughts. This openness is something that makes this school unique but at the same time, as a person who are not used to share my thoughts verbally, it was hard for me to be accustomed to this environment at first. However, I am becoming accustomed to it and now I think this openness is the best environment as an artist to make art.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work aims to depict modern society, social structure from the perspectives of social media platforms. Rather than focusing on individuals, my work concentrates on social structure itself and relates it to mass media, showing the impact on individuals. I think this interest started from my undergrad. I studied theatrical directing for my undergrad. I used to read and study classical plays such as “The Visit” by Friedrich Dürrenmatt and it made me pay attention to a current society, social structure where inequality and polarization are taking place.

The one important element of my work is space. My work creates situations and places viewers into a certain position where they can feel what I try to convey. I think this stems from my experience working as a scene designer and art director. I was in charge of creating and visualizing space and I think this experience made me realize the importance of using space. Therefore, I think and consider a lot about space when I am creating installations and sculptures.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I am a type of person who is bad at networking or socializing, but the good thing about CalArts is that CalArts has different majors from graphic design to theater. Therefore, if you need help in graphic design, you can take classes from graphic design and ask help from instructors. I was able to meet good instructors from different departments and they have been great mentors. Moreover, there are always exhibitions and events going on at CalArts. I can meet students from different backgrounds in those events and it has been great opportunities for me to build a network.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.leehyunju.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_hyunjuulee_