A Research study on Lee Bul’s Cyborgs series – From a perspective of lighting

Abstract

Whereas previous artist studies of Lee Bul's Cyborg Series have fixated primarily on tangible elements such as objects, displays, and space, the influential intangible element of lighting has proven neglected. By reviewing and categorizing previous reviews, critics, and interpretations from curators, scholars, and writers, this paper identifies this omitted perspective and constructs a unique research framework for analysis. Lee’s Cyborg series was impacted by the Cyborg Theory proposed by Donna Hoaraway, which had potentially huge implications for feminist art. Interpretations through lighting are essential, which enriched Lee's attitudes towards the notion of cyborgs. Based on the lighting theory established by Stanley McCandless and the analysis of lighting methods in the visual arts, this article devises its own lighting questions for analytical purposes and presents a distinct account and interpretation of key exhibitions after researching nearly sixty solo exhibitions that spanned over a decade. This paper argues that by changing the lighting’s key parameters, including intensity, distribution, color, and movement, ambivalent attitudes towards cyborgs are successfully transmitted to the viewers by the artist and the exhibition curators. Thus, it is not only the tangible elements of an artist's work that scholars should focus on, but also the intangible elements that play a major role in the interpretation of an artwork.