k.u.m.s.m.
m.s.m.
untitled
Jung ji Lee
Artist Statement
=Kondomozo is a character that I invented. He serves as my surrogate self, a synthesis of Korean and Japanese cultures, a metaphor for the meeting of opposites, and the border that separates them. While one may interpret this character as a reflection of a variety of ideas and aesthetics particular to Asian experiences and identities, Kondomozo is primarily a response to the racism I faced as a bi-racial person. I wanted to create a creature who is culturally flexible and who personifies self-acceptance.
The universe that Kondomozo inhabits is constructed from conscious and subconscious drawings, doodles, text and maps. The palette is inspired by cave paintings.
Kondomozo's simple shape is repeated and juxtaposed against a chaotic, drawn environment. Kondomozo acts as a smooth-skinned, nearly-featureless guide, in a wildly unpredictable and marred universe.
I believe that everyone perceives themselves - in some way - as a minority of sorts. It is my hope that Kondomozo may act as an ambassador of Other-ness and that people of all backgrounds will feel at home with him, or curious about him.=