From March 26 to May 17, 2026, Gallery Chosun presents Silly Symphony, a solo exhibition by Lee Eun (b. 1995).
The exhibition features the artist’s signature "GIF-fication" process, where the jittery, looping movements of digital memes and classic animations are translated into the physical medium of painting.
As noted by critic Yang Hyo-sil, Lee’s work captures a specific Gen Z sentiment—one defined by a sense of "dusty utopia" and existential fatigue.
By stripping characters from series like Sailor Moon and Baby Dinosaur Dooly of their original narratives, Lee reduces them to perpetual, convulsing motions.
This transformation from the slick digital surface of a GIF to an "untidy," material Abstract Expressionist base reflects a nostalgic but fragmented attempt to reconnect with the past, portraying a generation that feels stranded in a repetitive present without the promise of historical progress.
A centerpiece of the exhibition is a monumental 35-meter roll painting inspired by the 1932 Disney short Flowers and Trees.
In this work, Lee reinterprets "Mickey Mousing"—a synchronization technique used for escapism during the Great Depression—by stretching a short animation into a massive, inactive gesture.
This obsessive re-creation emphasizes the "Silly" and repetitive nature of childhood imagery, serving as a melancholic reflection on how modern adulthood often misappropriates childhood culture to "kill time." Lee’s "GIF-fication" ultimately serves as a physical sign of the turmoil and endurance of youth in the 21st century, finding a unique beauty in the rhythmic, regressive nature of the loop.
This exhibition aligns with the broader mission of Gallery Chosun, which has been a fixture of Seoul’s Bukchon art scene since 2004.
Located near the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, the gallery is dedicated to defining the paradigm of Korean contemporary art through a versatile and forward-thinking program.
Lee Eun is part of a diverse roster of gallery artists who bridge traditional techniques and new media.
While some artists at Gallery Chosun, like AHN Sanghoon and JEONG Jeongju, explore architectural light and the essence of painting, others like WOO Taekyung, LEE Yoonseo, and Axl Le investigate the profound impact of the internet and virtuality on modern life.
Through its participation in major international fairs like Art Basel Miami and Art Cologne, Gallery Chosun continues to champion these multifaceted perspectives on tradition, modernity, and the digital age.
