Your name
Claire Sunho Lee
Place of birth
Seoul, Korea
Place where you live now
London, UK
3 words to describe you
surrealism, control, surrender
Why do you take pictures?
I take pictures because it is a means to explore the fact that there are always multiple meanings in one “reality”.
Where do you get your inspiration?
I draw inspiration from the themes such as psychological complications, human conditions/experiences, trauma, and memory. I also pay close attention to my personal and collective surroundings, seeking out moments that feel familiar or normal. My creative process begins when I identify these elements and look into their assumed meanings, and find ways to reframe them or reveal new perspectives.
Who are your influences?
I love the works of Gillian Wearing, Ana Mendieta, Tauba Auerbach, Francis Alÿs, Laurie Anderson, Agnes Martin, and many more.
What determines the subject matter you choose?
My subject matter usually depends on each project’s overarching theme, but I am usually interested in staging scenes that feel familiar at first glance yet contain subtle disruptions - optical illusions that could prompt the viewers to take a second look.
In the photo series Tell Me What I’m Remembering, for example, I present moments of flashbacks or moments that seemed ordinary but have been redefined in hindsight with the new context of leukemia. While the images appear plausible - realistic enough to exist in the real world, they carry a surreal undertone, hovering between dream and reality, much like how I feel with my memories.
I also select subjects that allow me to play with the tension between control and surrender. I apply this across my multidisciplinary work, but in photography, this means deliberately constructing a specific scene while incorporating unexpected surprises, so that each component interacts with one another and the image becomes a conversation in itself.
What impact would you like your art to have?
I want my work to contribute to more vibrant discussions of arts, health, and care. In my work Tell Me What I’m Remembering, I reveal how memory can be fragmented and concealed. Through this, I hope to encourage empathy and deeper engagement with experiences of trauma and healing. Ultimately, I aim to challenge viewers’ definitions of normalcy and open space for more compassionate understanding towards diverse perspectives.
What artwork do you never get bored with?
I never get bored with artworks that respect and challenge the audience. This does not mean inaccessible or elitist works. It is the works that reveal new layers each time I return to them and invite active engagement. I am also never tired of works that balance openness with depth and encourage discussions.
Is there anything you want to add?
Thank you for including my work alongside such a group of talented artists! I’ve enjoyed the process a lot.
