:Yongwoo Lee

Lee studied literature and art history at Yonsei University, as well as Hongik University, in Seoul.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}} He has a Ph.D. in art history from Oxford University, where his doctoral dissertation, The Origins of Video Art, critically examined encounters between art and technology.{{Cite web |url=https://www.hoa.ox.ac.uk/files/art-historical-thesis-1930-university-wide |title=Art Historical Thesis from 1930 (University-wide) |website=University of Oxford History of Art Department |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608094605/https://www.hoa.ox.ac.uk/files/art-historical-thesis-1930-university-wide |archive-date=8 June 2017 |page=8}}

Lee was the founding director of the Gwangju Biennale in 1995, the first international bienniale in East Asia, which took "Beyond the Borders" as its inaugural theme.{{Cite journal|last=Preece|first=Robert|date=9 November 2014|title=The Biennial Phenomenon: A Conversation with Yongwoo Lee|url=https://www.questia.com/magazine/1P3-3486112621/the-biennial-phenomenon-a-conversation-with-yongwoo|journal=Sculpture Magazine|volume= 33}} The first Gwangju Biennale was visited by 1.63 million spectators, which remains the largest audience in the history of biennales.Universe in Universe, https://universes.art/en/gwangju-biennale/yongwoo-lee/ Lee was once again invited to curate the 2004 Gwangju Biennale for its tenth anniversary and also served as president of the Gwangju Biennale Foundation from 2008 to 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gwangjubiennale.org/gb/foundation/history.do|title=연혁 Chronology|website=www.gwangjubiennale.org|language=ko|access-date=22 May 2019}}

Lee founded the Shanghai Project in 2015 when he was the executive director of Shanghai Himalayas Museum, and co-curated its 2016 and 2017 editions with Hans Ulrich Obrist.Shanghai Project The Shanghai Project aimed to create an idea platform bringing together practitioners from a variety of disciplines, including art, architecture, design, film, performance, and sound, as well as the humanities and social and natural sciences.{{Cite web|url=https://www.e-flux.com/announcements/44484/yongwoo-lee-hans-ulrich-obrist-announced-as-co-artistic-directors-of-inaugural-edition/|title=Yongwoo Lee & Hans Ulrich Obrist announced as Co-Artistic Directors of inaugural edition - Announcements - e-flux|website=www.e-flux.com|language=en|access-date=22 May 2019}} The project explored the future of human beings in 100 years, with the theme "2116", focusing on climate change, human extinction, virtual reality, and slow-aging.{{Cite web|url=http://artradarjournal.com/2015/12/06/the-shanghai-project-2016-yongwoo-lee-interview/|title=The Shanghai Project 2016: Yongwoo Lee – interview {{!}} Art Radar|last=Radar|first=Art|language=en-GB|access-date=22 May 2019}}

Lee is the artistic director of the Shanghai International Art City Research Institute, which was established in 2017 by Baowu Steel and the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts (SAFA), Shanghai University.{{Cite web|url=https://www.e-flux.com/announcements/193833/forum-title-urban-transformation-through-art/|title=Forum title: Urban Transformation Through Art - Announcements - e-flux|website=www.e-flux.com|language=en|access-date=22 May 2019}} SIAC is a long-term project that transforms the decommissioned industrial heritage of the Baowu Steel compound into an art city. The planned art facilities include museums, arts streets, studios, galleries, art and architecture colleges, residential spaces, theaters, and other cultural facilities. The Shanghai International Art City Research Institute is located within Shanghai University and has the function of a research program as well as the mission to intervene in various spaces attached to art cities.

Lee has curated biennales as well as solo and thematic group shows, including two editions of the Gwangju Biennale in 1995 and 2004, "Information and Reality" (Contemporary Art of Korea, Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh), "Whitney Biennial in Seoul" (National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul),{{Cite book|url=https://www.abebooks.com/9788975940248/1993-whitney-biennial-seoul-8975940241/plp|title=1993 Whitney Biennial in Seoul|publisher=The National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea|year=1993|isbn=9788975940248}} "Nam June Paik Retrospective" (National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul), "The Flower of May" (The 30th Anniversary Exhibition of the Gwangju Civil Uprising, hosted by the Gwangju Biennale Foundation and Gwangju Museum of Art), "Dansaekhwa" (Palazzo Contarini Polignac, Collateral Event of the 56th Venice Biennale), "Tiger's Tail" (Palazzo Vendramin, Venice), "International Film and Video Since the 1980s" (Shanghai Himalayas Museum), and "The Challenging Souls: Yves Klein, Lee Ufan, Ding Yi" at the Power Station of Art (PSA), Shanghai, co-curated with Gong Yan.{{Cite web|title=The Challenging Souls at PSA|url=https://www.powerstationofart.com/whats-on/exhibitions/the-challenging-souls}}

Lee was a member of the international jury that selected Armenia as recipient of the Golden Lion for best national participation at the 56th Venice Biennale, in 2015.Andrew Russeth (23 April 2015), [https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/venice-biennale-awards-golden-lions-to-el-anatsui-susanne-ghez-names-international-jury-3984/ Venice Biennale Awards Golden Lions to El Anatsui, Susanne Ghez, Names Jury] ARTnews.

• Dansaekhwa (editor){{Cite book|title=Dansaekhwa|last=Lee|first=Yongwoo|year=2016|isbn=978-8992233767 }}
• Information and Reality (Fruitmarket Gallery Edinburgh){{Cite book|title=Information & Reality: Korean Contemporary Art|last=Lee|first=Yongwoo}}
• Nam June Paik (Samsung Publication){{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/84526910|title=Nam June Paik|last=Yongwoo Lee|first=Nam June Paik|publisher=Seoul: Samson Pub. Co.|year=1992|oclc=84526910 }}
• The Origins of Video Art (Munyemadang – doctoral dissertation){{cite book|url=http://www.worldcat.org/title/origins-of-video-art/oclc/43194073.|title=The origins of video art|via=worldcat.org|oclc=43194073 }}
• Art and Life of Nam June Paik (Yeoleumsa){{Cite web|url=http://kwangju.co.kr/article.php?aid=1379862000506646007|title=25일 광주문화포럼 세번째 강좌|last=Gwangju Culture Forum|website=kwangju.co.kr|access-date=22 May 2019}}

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Yongwoo}}

Category:South Korean historians

Category:Art historians

Category:Art educators

Category:South Korean educators

Category:South Korean art critics

Category:South Korean curators

Category:Art curators

Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)