LEEDOHAN
A hybrid artist who builds upon Korean tradition and contemporary culture, expanding the boundaries of materials and media through experimental practice.
Hybrid Artist
Beginning with photography, his practice evolved into digital art, then into printed physical works, and ultimately into wood-based objects. Moving forward, he continues to experiment with a wide range of materials—including wood, metal, fabric, acrylic, and resin—while integrating AI and digital media such as sound, video, and photography. Through this hybrid approach, he creates experimental works that intersect the fields of fashion, entertainment, and contemporary art.
History
First Attempt - Photography @2011
The origin of artist Leedohan’s artistic practice traces back to a photograph taken in 2011 of the ceiling of Changdeokgung Palace. Although the image depicts Dancheong, a traditional decorative pattern rooted in Buddhist architecture, its form unexpectedly resembled a cross, which led him to capture the scene. At the time, he had the opportunity to photograph alongside a well-known professional photographer, marking his first photographic experience as an artist.
First Creation - Digital Art @2022
My true beginning as an artist came through digital artworks that combined traditional Dancheong patterns with contemporary digital typography. Drawing from my long-standing fascination with photographs of Changdeokgung Palace, I embedded these images into various characters—much like munjado (pictorial calligraphy). I experimented with Korean consonants, vowels, the Roman alphabet, and various symbols. Among them, the character “ㅎ” (Hieut) resonated with me the most. This work was selected through an open call and became my first exhibited piece, shown as a commemorative work for the opening of the newly established National Museum of World Writing in Korea.
First International Exhibition @2023
Through a serendipitous opportunity, he collaborated with an artist active in overseas exhibitions to plan and curate joint exhibitions in both France and Korea. While exploring ways to connect France and Korea, he identified a shared visual point of reference: the colors red and blue. Departing from the traditional Korean color palette used in his earlier works, he reinterpreted his practice through a French sensibility of color. The resulting works were presented at a gallery and a festival in Toulouse, France.
First Sold Out @2024
It was the second year since he had begun his practice in earnest. While participating in an exhibition alongside artists of exceptional technical skill, he became acutely aware of his own limitations in traditional drawing. Rather than remaining confined by this realization, he turned to identifying the field in which he could excel—and it was there that his distinct edge emerged.
Working primarily with digital media, he found that simple printing felt insufficient, so he began creating frames from reclaimed, aged wood and integrating photographic works within them. This marked the moment his unique approach took form. Crafted with full dedication, the work met its first collector and resulted in his first complete sell-out.
First Large-Scale Exhibition @2025
For an artist in Korea, exhibiting at the Seoul Arts Center represents a long-held aspiration—a venue known for hosting exhibitions by some of the country’s most renowned painters. Through the encouragement and support of a mentor from whom he studied Dancheong, he was given the opportunity to participate in a group exhibition there. Standing before artists who had devoted their entire lives to traditional Buddhist painting, he felt a strong sense of responsibility not to fall short. Aware that technical mastery requires years to attain, he instead presented a contemporary sensibility through creative interpretation. By translating the traditional geutgi (brush-stroke technique) into a three-dimensional form, he was able to share a sense of joy with many visitors at Exhibition Hall 1 of the Seoul Arts Center—an experience through which he came to more deeply understand the meaning of art itself.
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