A Monument that cannot be a monument.

A monument is a part of a social system that one’s subjective and internal value or ideal can be hardly involved. It rather pursues a group’s belief or idealizessocial roles. Also, a monument figure stands solemnly and rigidly as a part of our society. As the monument represents superficial characteristic and symbol, the existence itself contains social values.

But, if the ideal value and the meaning it holds and the reality have a gap, or the monument is perceived only as a social belief or a sign, the real meaning forgotten, it would be a monument which cannot be a monument: an un-monument that lost its original meaning and value.

Space Cottonseed presents the first solo exhibition by Jaehoon Lee in Singapore. Titled Unmonument, Jaehoon Lee mixes an idealistic meaning of monument or so-called “ivory tower” and realistic meaning that the monument could stand for social values and status. The artist tries to replace the absolute social value to vanity. He confronts audiences with a world of empty formalities. In that false world, an individual lives and abides by society’s titles and becomes a symbol of a certain group. This world of empty formalities prevents a true communication. Unmonument hopes to communicate with the true faces beyond the social system.

Image: © Jaehoon Lee, Space Cottonseed