'face trace 01' by hyungkoo lee, 2012
resin, artificial teeth, stainless steel wire, acrylic, aluminum plate, bolt
36 x 22.4 x 23cm


hyungkoo lee: face trace
gallery skape, seoul, korea
on now through november 23rd, 2012

korean artist hyungkoo lee is well known for his quirky art based on his research of physiognomy, and has again deconstructed anatomy
as part of his 'face trace' exhibition at gallery skape in seoul. the new body of work comes after two years of dormancy,
however presents a striking ensemble of sculptures true to form of lee's artistic capacity - infusing his signature elements of wit and humor.

lee captures his own various facial expressions and intentionally fragments them into several parts, he then reassembles them
according to his studies of physiognomy, to compose completely different figures. the outcomes are created by overlapping skull
structures of several human racial types and different parts of lee's multiple facial expressions - a process informed by facial
reconstruction used in forensic science. the work explores the border between incompleteness and completion through the
unusual medium of the human body. 


'face trace 03', 2012
resin, artificial teeth, stainless steel wire, acrylic, aluminum plate, bolt



'face trace 04', 2012
resin, artificial teeth, stainless steel wire, acrylic, aluminum plate, bolt



'face trace 09', 2012
resin, artificial teeth, stainless steel wire, acrylic, aluminum plate, bolt



side view



the artwork captures the artist's own facial expressions which are then reassembled according to methods used in forensic science



the pieces combine various racial types int he reconstruction



rear view 



installation view of the artwork



the work infuses wit and humor - characteristic of lee's work