Korean Artist Lee Byungchan Debuts in Japan
- Gen de Art
- 1 day ago
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“Vanishing Point of the Ant” at Art Front Gallery, Daikanyama
(April 26 – May 25, 2025)
Art Front Gallery in Daikanyama, Tokyo, will host the highly anticipated Japan debut of Korean contemporary artist Lee Byungchan with his solo exhibition, “Vanishing Point of the Ant,” from April 26 to May 25, 2025. Known for his sculptural works crafted from disposable plastic, Lee explores the intersection of urban space, the human body, and consumerism through immersive installations and performance.
Highlight: A Street-Facing Installation as a Symbol of Disappearance
The exhibition centers around the concept of a “vanishing point”—a metaphor for how everyday individuals (referred to as “ants” in Korean colloquialism) gravitate toward consumer goods and ultimately dissolve into a singular point. Utilizing the gallery’s large street-facing window, the installation acts as a visual metaphor for this moment of convergence and erasure.
Inside the gallery, visitors encounter breathing, organic sculptures reflected in concave mirrors, creating a distorted yet hypnotic rhythm of movement and light. Some works are also wearable, and a video piece documents a performer walking through urban environments while donning a sculpture—exploring identity, self-recognition, and the fragility of physical form amid systems of consumption.
About the Artist: Sculpting the Invisible Forces of Capital
Born in 1987, Lee Byungchan is acclaimed for his use of disposable plastic to create pulsating, body-like forms that appear both parasitic and intimate. Through sound, movement, and light, his work visualizes the invisible mechanics of modern society—particularly capitalism and consumption.
Lee’s recent exhibitions include:
Setouchi Triennale (2025, Japan)
Echigo-Tsumari Art Field: Winter (2024, Japan)
The New Freak Show, Teatros del Canal (2024, Spain)
100 Years from Now Art Festival (2024, Japan)
Almost Grown Up, Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium (2023, Norway)
FaN WEEK, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum (2022, Japan)
In Korea, his major showcases include:
Magnum Opus, Daegu Art Museum (2024)
Plastic Campaign, Greenpeace Seoul (2023)
Bandi Walk, ACC Gwangju (2022)
His work is also part of the permanent collection of Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium in Norway.
《Teaser Movie》
This thought-provoking exhibition invites visitors to reconsider their place within the cycles of urban life and consumption. Through Lee’s immersive works, the boundaries between object and self, visibility and erasure, become both distorted and illuminated.
Vanishing Point of the Ant
Dates: April 26 (Sat) – May 25 (Sun), 2025 (tentative)
Opening Reception & Artist Talk: April 25 (Fri), 18:00–20:30 (Talk: 19:00–20:00)
Closed: Mondays, Tuesdays, and during Golden Week (April 28 – May 6)
Hours: Wed–Fri: 12:00–19:00 Sat, Sun & Holidays: 11:00–17:00
Venue: Art Front Gallery, Hillside Terrace A, 1F, 29-18 Sarugakucho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Website: http://www.artfrontgallery.com
Photo by Art Front Gallery
