Jungmin Lee on Dreams, Nostalgia, and Found Materials

The Magic of Mixed Media and Found Objects

Jungmin Lee’s art blends childhood memories, dreams, and cultural heritage into intricate mixed-media creations, exploring themes of belonging, identity, and emotional resilience through miniature worlds and found materials.

Jungmin Lee’s art is a journey into the heart of nostalgia, dreams, and cultural heritage. The South Korean artist and designer, a graduate with distinction from the ArtCenter College of Design, masterfully blends storytelling with mixed media to create intricate, evocative works. Her art transforms everyday materials into intimate, miniature worlds that celebrate family, tradition, and the timeless warmth of memory.

Lee’s creations are deeply rooted in her personal experiences and cultural background. Her childhood in South Korea, filled with family trips to ancient trees, visits to her grandparents’ home, and traditional rituals, serves as the foundation for her artistic themes. These moments, rich with emotional depth, are reimagined in her work, allowing her to preserve and share the essence of her heritage.

One of her standout pieces, Cabinet, exemplifies her ability to weave personal and collective memory. This layered collage, made from stamps, stickers, and pages from her mother’s notebooks, bridges her own life story with broader cultural experiences. Through her art, Lee explores themes of belonging, identity, and emotional resilience, creating a space where fragments of her heritage come alive.

“Jungmin Lee’s ability to transform memories and dreams into evocative art showcases her profound creativity and cultural storytelling brilliance.“

– Editor, Mosaic Digest

The Role of Childhood and Nostalgia

Lee’s childhood memories play a pivotal role in shaping her artistic vision. Reflecting on her early years, she recalls family trips to see ancient trees, such as the 800-year-old Ginkgo tree in Jangsudong, Incheon. These outings, initially puzzling to her as a child, became cherished memories of family gatherings and connection. Similarly, visits to her grandparents’ home, filled with the warmth of home-cooked meals and shared moments, inspire her work.

“Art helps me bring back the forgotten past,” Lee explains. “Drawing, painting, and sculpting allow me to remember what I enjoyed and felt deeply, helping me slow down and rethink why I want to study art.”

Dreams as a Creative Catalyst

Dreams are another significant influence on Lee’s creative process. She describes them as “uncertain, blurry, and weird,” offering her a space of endless possibilities. Dreams allow her to experiment freely, shifting storylines, combining found materials, or even erasing and restarting her work.

“Memory is always changing, and dreams are fantastical,” she says. “They give me a free ground to start from, with less pressure, and motivate me to explore new ideas.”

The Magic of Mixed Media

Lee’s art is characterized by her innovative use of mixed media. She finds inspiration in everyday objects, often scavenging through her home, recycling bins, or old boxes in the garage. Her process is organic and unplanned, evolving as she experiments with different materials and scales.

“I like to start with one object, then maybe cut it out the next day, paint over it, or find an image in a magazine,” she shares. “These days, I’m also exploring watercolor and the unexpected ways ink flows, which adds a new layer of emotion to my work.”

Creating Miniature Worlds

A recurring theme in Lee’s art is the concept of “miniature worlds.” These small-scale creations allow her to observe the world from a simplified perspective, evoking the playful spirit of childhood.

“Inside a miniature world, the creatures and houses feel safe and open a way to start an adventure,” she explains. “Creating these small environments brings coziness and warmth to my mind, and I hope to share that feeling with others through my art.”

“Art helps me bring back the forgotten past.” – Jungmin Lee

Cultural Heritage and Storytelling

Lee’s cultural background is a rich source of inspiration for her work. Traditional Korean foods, ancestral rites, and folk tales often shape the characters and narratives in her art. Her family members, particularly her grandparents, frequently serve as the starting point for her sketches and imaginary characters.

“Folk tales and traditional music help me learn where I come from and teach me about the lives of my ancestors,” she says. “They inspire me to create art that connects the past with the present.”

“Dreams give me a free ground to start from, with less pressure, and motivate me to explore new ideas.” – Jungmin Lee

Exploring Collective and Individual Power

Through her art, Lee delves into the interplay between collective and individual power. She sees collective power as a source of empathy and connection, while individual power stems from personal memory and introspection.

“My work often begins with my personal background, but my hope is to explore the influences of childhood to adulthood and the conflicted minds of people,” she explains. “I want to share diverse human emotions through art, helping others feel connected and free to dream and imagine.”

“I want to share diverse human emotions through art, helping others feel connected and free to dream and imagine.” – Jungmin Lee

A Universal Connection

Jungmin Lee’s art is a testament to the power of storytelling and the beauty of found materials. By transforming ordinary objects into extraordinary visual narratives, she creates works that resonate with universal human warmth. Her ability to blend personal and collective memory, cultural heritage, and the dreamlike quality of imagination makes her art both deeply personal and universally relatable.

Through her intricate, tactile creations, Lee invites viewers to explore their own memories, dreams, and connections, offering a space for reflection, healing, and inspiration.