Jewyo Rhii

Jewyo Rhii (born 1971) is a South Korean artist.

Rhii was born in Seoul, South Korea. She graduated from Ewha Womans University and went on to study at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and the Chelsea College of Arts in London.

Rhii has engaged in different exhibition activities since the 1990s. She introduced her work mainly in the form of books produced for about 5 years from 1998 onwards. In these publications, the environment of the birth of physical work was recorded and documented together with the gradual flow of time around them and the changes that subsequently occurred. She published three art books in this periods that all dealt which the way people make urgent, provisional efforts to improve their physical and mental environment. These efforts, usually her own, are revealed in humorous picture stories taking the form of photos, drawings and registrations of physical works of art. After the books, Rhii became more interested in a non-retrospective nowness. She wants to work in the physical location of an exhibition or open up her own studio working process. She investigated coincidences and made works that vary depending on the site. She carried out spontaneous actions and seeks to work in unfamiliar spaces or situations in order to respond to the dynamics of the environment.

Her interest in encountering otherness originates from the experience of living abroad in many different cultures and the challenges and discoveries that brings. She often works with ephemeral objects, temporary materials and simple, fast drawings that reflect the insecurity, resentment, deficiency and vulnerability of individual physical existence and the inevitable battles with time and space. She often uses an indefinite or not quite finished installation method that expresses hesitation and the dependency of her work on the situation. Her recent works are characterised by underlying and often undisclosed stories or experiences that serve as the inspiration for installations, video and site specific works. Most of these latest works focus on the qualities of her unique relationships with people and places that drift in and out of her artistic life, sometimes seeming to share fate for a period, sometimes just briefly touching the artist's continuing existence.

Rhii lives and works in Seoul and New York.

Recent solo exhibitions include Commonly Newcomer at the Queens Museum, New York, United States (2015); Dear My Anti-capitalist, Ursula Walbrol Gallery, Düsseldorf, Germany (2015); Jewyo Rhi, Wilkinson Gallery, London, England (2014); Walls To Talk To, Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, Netherlands; Walls To Talk To, Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt (2013); Night Studio, Artsonje Center, Seoul (2013–2014). Recent group exhibitions include Le Souffleur, Ludwig Forum, Aachen, Germany, 2015; DOWN BREAKS-UNKNOWN PACKAGES, Queens Museum, New York, United States (2015); PARIS TRIENNALE, INTENSE PROXIMITY, Palais de Tokyo, Paris, France (2012); TRUST, Media City Seoul, Seoul, South Korea (2010); Everyday Miracle , REDCAT, Los Angeles (2009); On The Road & Insertation, the 7th Gwangju Biennale, Gwangju, South Korea (2008); Dream House, 10th ISTANBUL BIENNALE, Antrepo, Istanbul, Turkey (2007); 51th VENICE BIENNALE, Korean Pavilion, Venice, Italy (2005); BOOM SHE BOOM, Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt, Germany (2004–2005).

• 2010 Yanghyun Prize, Yanghyun Foundation
• 2000 New Contemporaries

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• 2013 Walks to talk to, published by koenig books
• 2013 Night Studio, published by SAMUSO
• 2009 Of Five Carts And On, published by SAMUSO
• 2008 Ten Years, Please, published by DARUN BOOKS
• 2004 Two, independent publishing
• 2003 Warming and Humidifying, independent publishing
• 1999 Once you lie down, independent publishing