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Daehyung Lee Curates Korean Pavilion at 2017 Venice Biennale with Three Generations of Artists

exhibition · 2026-04-20

At the 2017 Venice Biennale, Daehyung Lee curated the Korean Pavilion, showcasing 'Counterbalance' with contributions from three artists across various generations. The first-generation artist, Mr K, displayed a personal collection of 1,412 photographs that captured the experiences of survival during Japanese imperialism, the Korean War, dictatorship, and economic change. Cody Choi, representing the second generation, presented 'Venetian Rhapsody,' a neon installation that critiques 'casino capitalism.' The third-generation artist, Lee Wan, unveiled 'Proper Time,' which featured 670 clocks ticking at rates corresponding to the time individuals work to earn a meal. Located in the Giardini, the Biennale attracted over 7,000 journalists and took place from 13 May to 26 November 2017.

Key facts

  • Daehyung Lee curated the Korean Pavilion at the 2017 Venice Biennale.
  • The exhibition 'Counterbalance' featured artists Mr K, Cody Choi, and Lee Wan.
  • Mr K's work included 1,412 photographs from a personal archive bought for US$50.
  • Cody Choi's 'Venetian Rhapsody' was a neon installation referencing Las Vegas and Macao casinos.
  • Lee Wan's 'Proper Time' had 670 clocks with individualized ticking rates based on work time for meals.
  • The pavilion was in the Giardini, with the Biennale from 13 May to 26 November 2017.
  • Lee compared curating to managing 'aggressive fish in a tank' to avoid discord.
  • Lee noted the Venice Biennale attracts over 7,000 journalists and involves 84 countries.

Entities

Artists

  • Daehyung Lee
  • Mr K
  • Cody Choi
  • Lee Wan

Institutions

  • ArtReview
  • Venice Biennale
  • Korean Pavilion

Locations

  • Venice
  • Italy
  • Giardini
  • Korea
  • Asia
  • Las Vegas
  • Macao
  • Adriatic Sea

Sources