Embodiment

Embodiment (Eng / 한글)

Juxquilogy (dʒʌks'kwɪlədʒi) n.

On non-existent existence
May 9th, 2023

Eul Lee invents non-existent words. He finds and names beings that remain unrecognized due to the absence of a corresponding language. Through this process of naming, Eul tries to expand the scope of the world that we can perceive. The visual art created by Eul emerges as a by-product of this naming process.
Capturing an 'out-of-language' being is consistently challenging. Consequently, Eul often finds himself in awkward situations where he struggles to provide a precise definition for the being he seeks to capture. In such instances, Eul creates visual representations that he believes come closest to embodying his intended definition. By repeatedly externalizing his inner impressions of these 'out-of-language' beings, Eul gradually refines the concept he is pursuing. One notable example of this process is the 384th word, Juxquilogy. Eul created the word Juxquilogy in January 2023 but did not define it until completing the six Juxquilogy series sculptures.

The Juxquilogy series showcases mannequins wearing lab coats. Each artwork depicts these characters enduring constant torment: a set of wooden stilts from which they cannot descend, a table with four individuals forcibly bound by solidarity, and a leash that tightens their breath the more they hold onto hope. While the common thread within Juxquilogy lies in the presence of victims, the perpetrators responsible for their suffering remain unseen. At first glance, it may even appear as though the mannequins willingly shoulder the pain themselves. However, there is an unmistakable culprit—an external force that cunningly embeds itself in our lives under the guise of norms, customs, or social structures. Eul reveals the existence of this covert enemy by naming it Juxquilogy, shedding light on how it inflicts pain upon our lives.
In this manner, Eul exhibits a profound fascination with unseen or unheard beings that exist beyond the confines of our language. By assigning them names, he constructs a more vibrant and sophisticated language through which to perceive the world. Echoing Wittgenstein's assertion that the limits of language define the limits of the world, Eul pushes the boundaries of the world through his word creation.

■ Examples