Lee Moka's "I'm Not Like Me" (2020) fetched 1.65 million Hong Kong dollars at the Phillips's Modern and Contemporary Evening Sale in Hong Kong, Monday. Courtesy of the artist
Korean artist Lee Moka made a dazzling debut on the international art auction when her painting "I'm Not Like Me" (2020) fetched 1.65 million Hong Kong dollars ($211,328 or 300 million won) — more than quadrupling its estimate — at a Phillips sale in Hong Kong, Monday.
This result is particularly notable for artists in their 20s and even more exceptional considering the rarity of living Korean artists achieving bids in the hundred-million-won range. Lee was also the sole Korean artist represented in the Modern and Contemporary Evening Sale, a highlight of the Phillips Hong Kong auction.
Born in 1996, Lee has rapidly emerged as a compelling figure in the Korean art scene, drawing inspiration from social media and analog photography. Known for her thought-provoking exploration of modern identity in the digital age, Lee captures the complexities of self-perception through her highly stylized portraits.
Her 2020 work "I'm Not Like Me" depicts a young woman's introspective gaze against a shadowy backdrop, with the title hinting at the dualities of selfhood in a digital world dominated by online personas. Lee's creative process involves exploring social media and using algorithm-driven feeds to discover individuals whose presence resonates with her vision. She then transforms these digital impressions into meticulously layered oil paintings.
"A face alone can say so many things. It indicates so much about a person, and I think understanding small nuances and being able to observe the tiniest flickers of emotion is quite fun and necessary," Lee is quoted saying.
Lee's breakout moment at the auction follows years of critical recognition. Her 2023 solo exhibition "Innuendo" at the Jason Haam Gallery in Seoul and participation in group shows, including "Masterful Attention Seekers" at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Busan and "SeMA Omnibus: At the End of the World Split Endlessly" at the Seoul Museum of Art have solidified her reputation. She is slated for a solo exhibition at Carlos/Ishikawa in London in January 2025.
She was also listed in The Artsy Vanguard 2025, recognized for her ability to "paint youthful moments of frozen time, evoking '90s snapshots and smartphone selfies."
Meanwhile, during Tuesday's Day Sale, other Korean artists also garnered attention. The late Park Seo-bo's "Ecriture No.040718" was sold for HK$508,000, Lee Bae's charcoal painting "Untitled (2016)" fetched HK$304,800, and Chung Sang-hwa's "Untitled 2017-6-12" hammered at HK$698,500, underscoring the growing global appeal of contemporary Korean art.