Minwoo Lee Discusses Speculative Archives, Unlearning Photography, and Quiet Resistance

Minwoo Lee has recently joined the University of Houston as an Assistant Professor of Photography/Video, where he delves into speculative archives and processes that do not involve a camera. His ongoing research focuses on the forgotten history of a World War II detention camp located in Crystal City, Texas, with support from the Canada Council for the Arts. Lee, who earned his MFA from the University of Guelph, teaches various courses, including a graduate seminar centered on Jonathan Crary's 'Technique of the Observer.' He views his artistic endeavors as a form of 'quiet resistance,' challenging conventional photography through techniques such as hand-developing Polaroids and manipulating photographic paper, drawing inspiration from artists like Philip Guston and Lee Ufan. His piece 'Scrapping Face' employs cameraless Polaroids to depict unnamed workers from a colonial-era warehouse in Incheon, South Korea. Lee critiques the prescriptive nature of AI aesthetics and promotes an 'unphotography' that questions the boundaries of the medium. He has upcoming exhibitions, including one in California in June and another set to open on January 15, 2026, in Quebec City. His family’s saying, 'The correct way is the path of most resistance,' shapes his artistic philosophy and teaching style, focusing on structuralist critique and the deconstruction of photographic norms.