Look west is a community-driven art gallery and the creative studio of artist travis weller.
look west celebrates creative culture through gallery exhibitions and events focused on bringing a diverse set of artists and perspectives to the west end of san rafael. Come check us peace
JUNE 6TH - JULY 25TH
JUNG SUN LEE IS A KOREAN-BORN MIXED-MEDIA ARTIST BASED IN SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA. LEE’S WORK INTRICATELY WEAVES TOGETHER PERSONAL NARRATIVE, CULTURAL HERITAGE, AND GEOGRAPHICAL TRANSIENCE. AFTER EARNING HER BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS (BFA) WITH PAINTING FROM SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, SHE EXPANDED HER ARTISTIC HORIZONS BY STAYING AND STUDYING IN PARIS, FRANCE, FROM 2006 TO 2008. IN 2010, LEE MOVED TO THE UNITED STATES, INITIALLY SETTLING IN BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA. OVER THE FOLLOWING DECADE, HER JOURNEY TOOK HER ACROSS DIVERSE REGIONS, INCLUDING GEORGIA AND MASSACHUSETTS. THESE SUCCESSIVE RELOCATIONS AND THE ADAPTATIONS REQUIRED BY UNFAMILIAR ENVIRONMENTS BECAME A PROFOUND CATALYST FOR HER PRACTICE, PROMPTING HER TO CONTINUOUSLY REASSEMBLE HER IDENTITY AND SYNTHESIZE HER LIVED EXPERIENCES INTO HER ART.
SINCE RETURNING TO THE BAY AREA IN 2021, LEE HAS ENTERED A HIGHLY PROLIFIC PHASE OF HER CAREER. FOLLOWING HER DEBUT SOLO EXHIBITION IN FEBRUARY 2024, SHE HAS MAINTAINED A RIGOROUS ANNUAL EXHIBITION SCHEDULE, PRESENTING NOTABLE SOLO EXHIBITIONS AT THE CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO (CCSF) AND SAN JOSE CITY COLLEGE (SJCC), ALONGSIDE GROUP EXHIBITIONS IN SAN FRANCISCO AND AT THE MARIN MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART (MARIN MOCA). CURRENTLY, SHE IS PREPARING FOR HER FOURTH SOLO EXHIBITION AT LOOK WEST GALLERY, WHERE SHE WILL DEBUT A NEW SERIES OF WORKS THAT SEAMLESSLY BLEND PAINTING AND EMBROIDERY ON CANVAS.
FOR LEE, ARTISTIC CREATION IS BOTH A DEDICATED EXPLORATION OF LIFE’S INTRINSIC BEAUTY AND A VITAL MEDIUM FOR INTERGENERATIONAL DIALOGUE. AS A MOTHER RAISING TWO TEENAGED DAUGHTERS, SHE VIEWS HER DUAL ROLES AS PARENT AND ARTIST DEEPLY INTERTWINED. SHE CONSIDERS IT A VITAL CREATIVE AND PERSONAL MISSION TO INSTILL A PROFOUND APPRECIATION FOR THEIR KOREAN HERITAGE IN HER CHILDREN WHILE GUIDING THEM TO PERCEIVE THE WORLD'S DEEP AESTHETIC TRUTHS. HER TEXTURED, MULTI-LAYERED CANVASES STAND AS A TESTAMENT TO THIS JOURNEY—CAPTURING THE ESSENCE OF MEMORY, MATERNAL IDENTITY, AND THE FLUID LANDSCAPES OF A LIFE LIVED ACROSS CULTURES.
OPENING RECEPTION SATURDAY, JUNE 6TH FROM 6-9PM
JUNG SUN LEE ALIEN RHAPSODY
ALIEN RHAPSODY A SOLO SHOW OF ORIGINAL, MIXED-MEDIA PAINTINGS AND HAND EMBROIDERED WORKS ON CANVAS CAPTURING THE ESSENCE OF MEMORY, MATERNAL IDENTITY, AND THE FLUID LANDSCAPES OF A LIFE LIVED ACROSS CULTURES.
ONE DAY, I SAW A VIDEO ONLINE WHERE PEOPLE WHO CAME TO LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY WERE CALLED “ALIENS".
LIVING HERE AS AN IMMIGRANT, I’VE OFTEN THOUGHT OF MYSELF AS A STRANGER. BUT HEARING THE WORD "ALIEN" COME FROM SOMEONE ELSE BROUGHT UP SO MANY MIXED EMOTIONS. IT LED ME TO LOOK UP THE DICTIONARY DEFINITION OF THE WORD. AND THERE IT WAS: ONE OF THE MEANINGS WAS INDEED "STRANGER," THE VERY WORD I HAD BEEN USING ALL ALONG. SINCE THAT DAY, I’VE DECIDED TO LOOK AT THIS WORD IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT. I REALIZED THAT NO MATTER WHO CALLS ME WHAT, OR WHAT THEY MEAN BY IT, AS LONG AS I KNOW THE MEANING I'VE GIVEN TO MY OWN EXISTENCE, WHO I TRULY AM WILL NEVER CHANGE.
I LOVE TO JUST SIT AND LOOK AT THE WORLD WE LIVE IN. NATURE, IN ITS QUIET AND DEEP PRESENCE, ALWAYS BRINGS ME SO MUCH COMFORT. ALL THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN LIFE—THE MESSY THOUGHTS AND COMPLICATED FEELINGS—CAN’T REALLY BE DEFINED IN JUST ONE SENTENCE. THAT’S WHY I’M ALWAYS ASKING MYSELF WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE, AND I'M ALWAYS FINDING NEW ANSWERS.
MY PAINTINGS ARE MY WAY OF BRINGING ALL THESE STORIES TOGETHER INTO A SINGLE LANDSCAPE. THE PROCESS OF FILLING THE CANVAS IS COMPLETELY SPONTANEOUS, RELYING ENTIRELY ON MY OWN EXPERIENCES AND SENSES. BUT THE MOMENT A PIECE IS FINISHED AND SHOWN TO THE WORLD, IT CHANGES. IT’S NO LONGER JUST MY STORY, IT BECOMES OUR STORY. I HOPE THAT INSIDE MY PAINTINGS, YOU CAN FEEL THE BEAUTIFUL, DIVERSE STORIES OF OUR LIVES, THE EVER-CHANGING WAVES OF THOSE NARRATIVES, AND THE GENTLE SONG OF THE WIND.
- JUNG SUN LEE
