Kondomozo and Ubume are two characters I invented. They serve as my surrogate self—a synthesis of Korean and Japanese cultures, a metaphor for the meeting of opposites, and the border that separates them. While one may interpret these characters as reflections of various ideas and aesthetics specific to Asian experiences and identities, Kondomozo and Ubume are primarily a response to the racism I faced as a biracial person. I wanted to create a creature that is culturally flexible and personifies self-acceptance.
The universe that Kondomozo and Ubume inhabit is constructed from conscious and subconscious drawings, doodles, text, and maps. The palette is inspired by cave paintings. Kondomozo and Ubume's simple shape is repeated and juxtaposed against a chaotic, drawn environment. They act as smooth-skinned, nearly featureless guides in a wildly unpredictable and marred universe.
Jung Ji "Masa" Lee
I find inspiration in the work of several artists and the aesthetics of many cultural movements. These influences include Jean-Michel Basquiat, On Kawara, Yoshitomo Nara, Inka Essenhigh, Mark Manders, Laura Owens, Suh Do-ho, Cy Twombly, Julie Mehretu, Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, Gustav Klimt, Noh theater, Japanese yokai stories (particularly the works of Natsuhiko Kyogoku), kotodama, Superflat (Takashi Murakami), Otaku culture, and Mandala painting.
I believe that everyone perceives themselves—in some way—as a minority of sorts. It is my hope that Kondomozo and Ubume may act as ambassadors of "otherness," allowing people of all backgrounds to feel at home with them or curious about them.
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