With innocence intact, Dong Gu Lee used to flip through his animal encyclopedia, sketching out the weird, wonderful and enchanting creatures that greeted him on the page. Unfortunately, the sharp twists and turns of life led him down the path of emptiness, compelling him to deconstruct despair and confront the closet frailty that once characterized his existence.

After his mandatory military service, Dong Gu underwent a personal paradigm shift, redirecting his gaze towards the elusive theme of happiness. Underpinned by chance conversations and literary musings, each stroke of his brush captured striking ideas and fresh perspectives on the world around.

Nowadays, Dong Gu masterfully manipulates pockets of joy into visual metaphors with a dash of trademark humor on the side. For him, art is not just a medium of expression, it is a liberating platform that enables him to march to the beat of his own unique drum. He transcends the ordinary and disrupts the status quo with an invigorating energy that quite simply commands our attention. In the company of Dong Gu’s imaginary friends, we enter into a realm where emotions move freely, and happiness is not just a pursuit, but a captivating reality to stumble upon with awe.

Cat in Jeans (2021). Acrylic on Canvas. 80.3 x 100cm.

Dream Eater (2022). Acrylic on Canvas. 130 x 97cm.

Night Bee (2022). Acrylic on Canvas. 45.5 x 53cm.

Personality (2022). Acrylic on Canvas. 46 x 53cm.

I Want to Say Goodbye (2022). Acrylic on Canvas. 100 x 73cm.

The Coming of Freedom (2021). Acrylic on Canvas. 145.5 x 227.3cm.

Discover more of Dong Gu’s works in Issue 3 of our magazine!