So Youn Lee begins from ontological uncertainty to explore the relationship between the invariability of "self-perception" and the hybrid, multi-layered, and fluid identity of the post-internet era. The artist simultaneously captures both a yearning for a world where all beings are respected without suffering and an awareness of the limitations of such ideals, expressing the fragmented existential state of contemporary individuals.

Within the fundamental contradictions present in her work—the conflicts of life and identity, loneliness within community, and fear beyond hope—Lee's art opens spaces of ontological resistance and possibility through imagination and creative acts.

Born in Korea in 1984, Lee's experiences through South Korea’s financial crisis, rapid digitalization, and life as an immigrant have led her to question the conditions of human coexistence beyond cultural and social contexts. Growing up during radical economic, social, and cultural changes, her generational experience of emotionally connecting and identifying with characters from popular culture such as games, comics, and animation formed an important foundation for her visual language. These influences extend beyond simple nostalgia, expanding into philosophical questions of the post-internet era regarding communication between human and non-human entities and fundamental questions about the boundaries between reality and virtuality.

Her distinctive approach to capturing the unique melancholy of the post-internet era—nostalgia for places never physically visited and longing for times never directly experienced—is a unique characteristic of her work. The protagonists appearing in her works acquire new meaning through the lens of Carl Gustav Jung's collective unconscious and archetypes. These beings, manifested as fruits, mushrooms, and ghost-like figures, represent fluid self-identity and can be seen as contemporary reinterpretations of Jung's "Divine Child," "Trickster," and "Self" archetypes. The way these archetypes overlap and recombine in her work serves as a tool to visualize the fragmented and reconstructed identities of modern humans in the post-internet era. The large eyes of these protagonists connect to Lacanian gaze theory, playing a crucial role in completing the structure of So Youn Lee's works.

The distinctive tension perceived in this gaze suggests traces of the "Real"—traces of that which exists beyond the process of symbolization, which cannot be fully captured through language and symbols. This gaze symbolizes the invariability of "self-perception" while revealing the fundamental contradiction of human existence, which can only recognize itself through the gaze of others. Through this gaze, viewers are transformed from passive observers into active participants interacting with the artwork.

The dreamlike pastel tones and soft forms visually implement the conceptual content of the work. The subtle imbalances and tensions embedded within the seemingly harmonious and peaceful color compositions suggest fundamental disconnections between reality and virtuality, ideals and actuality.

So Youn Lee lives and works in Los Angeles. She holds a BFA from Art Center College of Design, 2012. The artist works across various media including painting and ceramics, and continues to be active by showcasing exhibitions in cities around the world such as New York, Los Angeles, Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Manila, London, and Paris.