4 0121- 1110=112029 | wood (oak) | var iable installation | 2012

BEAUTIFUL DIALOGUE

I cer tainly do not have the power to make the wor ld beautiful . I just hope to make those things that are seen beautiful .

The organic constructions of Lee Jaehyo exude a breath-taking otherwor ldly splendour. Both pensive and dynamic , sti l l yet deafening, his works allow him to expose the often neglected intr insic beauty of his conventional subjects. His ‘common’ mater ials and forms of choice offer an immediate accessibil ity that defies any cultural, histor ical , intellectual or spir itual boundar y, seducing the audience to enter into its space and reacquaint themselves with the un-commonness of their existence . Yet in their abil ity to cross borders and seamlessly adapt to international landscapes, Lee’s practice remains specifically rooted in Korean ar tistic tradition to cultivate his exchange with the present.

Born in 1965 in South Korea, Lee Jaehyo emerged against the predominant wave of his contemporar ies whose ar t imitated Western modernist styles and movements of the ear ly twentieth centur y. Audiences have been quick to associate him with the concept of faktura of the Russian Constructivists active in the ear ly year s leading up to the Fir st Wor ld War (1914-18) and the Land Ar t movement of the United States that took shape in the 1960s and 70s. Faktura referred to the visual demonstration of distinct proper ties inherent to mater ials while the Land Ar t movement protested against the ar tificial ity and commercialisation of beauty. Lee’s works such as 0121-110=112027 reflect these pr imar y concerns of faktura and Land Ar t through the use of the timeless medium of wood. The pieces have been labor iously worked into a smooth and perfect column to reveal the str iking nuances of their growth r ings, tones and textures. However Lee also voices the pr imar y impor tance of upholding traditional Korean ar t in his work. Korean ar t stands out for the impor tance placed on the subtle mark of the ar tist while respecting the nature of the mater ials. The traditional Korean ar t genres of call igraphy, painting, ceramics, handicraft and architecture emphasise a strong emotional and spir itual tie to their native landscape expressed through rustic l ines, simple tones and unrestrained harmony. Lee’s wooden constructions are reminiscent of Korean traditional houses, hanok. Although hanok were built without the use of nails and Lee’s wooden sculptures rely heavily on metal fastenings, his work ingeniously embodies the structurally and aesthetically balanced fusion of straight l ines and cur ves, exposed r ibs and decorative surfaces that character ise hanok.

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1 0121- 1110=1071212 | wood (fallen leaves) | 600 x 300 cm | 2007

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The significance placed on structure and surface and the interplay between the media employed for each work reveals Lee’s constant interaction with his mater ials. Sculptures such as 0121-110=1111219 reverse the roles of the invisible structural nails and the visible wood exter ior. The nails r ise to the surface of the work, embedded into charcoaled wood and polished to an unexpected mesmer ising sheen. These constant exchanges between the seen and unseen, mater ial and immater ial , in Lee’s work uncover the synergy of ar tificial inter vention with natural evolution; an attr ibute of his relationship with both his mater ials and the development of his ar t.

Lee’s commitment to presenting the ‘true’ nature of his media conveys a mutual respect between the ar tist and his mater ials. Ever yday entities such as steel and wood metamorphose into new and unfamiliar identities through the ar tist’s inquisitive and reverent deconstruction of the mater ials. From the moment he walks into the forest or tool shop to encounter his collection of timber, stone or nails for his next creation, he allows these mater ials to speak to him, taking on the role of an instrument for their next incarnation. Painstakingly polished sl ices of wood and bent nails convey the beauty of the conventional and Lee maximises their pur ity through simple geometr ic forms. Such expressions are also seen in his recent sculpture 0121-1110-111041, built entirely of welded stainless steel cylindr ical tubes which possess an organic quality that appears to breathe l ife into, and uncover the beauty of, the industr ial mater ial and form.

The immensity and flawlessness of nature that inspire Lee Jaehyo’s dialogues with his mater ials endow his sculpture with a universality that engages anyone who also dares to venture beyond surface and object. He stands amongst a select group of Korean contemporar y ar tists whose expression is deeply tied to their inher ited tradition. As curator Laurencina Farrant-Lee obser ves, these ar tists ‘possess strong emotional and spir itual ties to their native landscape and culture and draw from Korean aesthetics to sustain, complement and fur ther their contemporar y statement. The creative energy that is achieved in this process is innovative and exciting, uplift ing and beautiful ’[1]. Lee’s works appear to l ive and breathe in the present through their creator’s abil ity to converse with the past and look forward, a respect that flows into the mater ials and beyond to the spectator.

Lee Jungeun, Independent Writer

[1] Laurencina Farrant-Lee , ‘Simply Beautiful Exhibition Concept’ , Lee Jaehyo. Simply Beautiful : Breadth of Nature in Korean Contemporar y Ar t, CentrePasquAr t, Biel , 2006, n.p.

5 0121- 1110=112027 | wood (camell ia) | 32 x 32 x 270 cm | 2012 06 | 07

2 0121- 1110=112021 | wood (bamboo) | 210 x 210 x 66 cm | 2012

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3 0121- 1110=112011| wood (branches) | 600 x 100 x 220 cm, 31 pieces | 2012

8 0121- 1110=1111012 | wood (larch) | 86 x 86 x 22 cm | 2011

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7 0121- 1110=111123 | wood (chestnut) | 118 x 118 x 38 cm | 2011

9 0121- 1110=1100315 | steel wire | 80 x 80 cm | 2010

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10 0121- 1110=111044 | stainless steel bolts, nails & wood | 60 x 60 x 8 cm | 2011

6 0121- 1110=111073 | casting | 90x217cm, 76x185cm, 62x155cm | 2011

13 0121- 1110=1111221 | stainless steel bolts, nails & wood | 34 x 29 x 31 cm | 2011

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12 0121- 1110=1111219 | Stainless steel bolts, nails & wood | 28 x 25 x 15 cm | 2011

11 0121- 1110=1111216 | stainless steel bolts, nails & wood | 18 x 12 x 20 cm | 2011

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LEE JAEHYO (b1965)

EDUCATION

1992 B.F.A., Hong-Ik University, Seoul, Korea

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2012 Beautiful Dialogue, HADA Contemporary, London

Lee Jaehyo 1991-2012, Sungkuk Ar t Museum, Seoul

2011 Momtgomery Museum of Fine Ar ts, Alabama

2010 The force of will: The force of nature, Albemarle Gallery, London

Solo Exhibition, REEVES Contemporary, New York

Nampo Art Museum, Korea

2009 Solo Exhibition, Gallery Sol Beach, Korea

Solo Exhibition, Ever Harvest Ar t Gallery, Taiwan

Solo Exhibition, Gallery Keumsan, Japan

Force of Nature, Solo Exhibition, Albemarle Gallery, London

2008 Solo Exhibition, BUNDO Gallery, Korea

Solo Exhibition, REEVES Contemporary, New York

2007 Solo Exhibition, Gallery Keumsan, Japan

Solo Exhibition, Gallery Ar tside, China

Solo Exhibition, Gallery Keumsan, Korea

2005 Solo Exhibition, Gallery Ar tside, Korea

2003 Solo Exhibition, Gallery Won, Korea

2001 Solo Exhibition, Vermont Studio Center, USA

2000 Solo Exhibition, Ilmin Museum of Ar t, Korea

1996 Solo Exhibition, Museum of Seoul Ar ts Center, Korea

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2011 International Sculpture Symposium in Icheon(Icheon)

Moving Ar t Village (Nampo Art Museum)

SOFA New York 2011 (New York)

Gotenyama Exhibition (Ippodo Gallery, Gotenyama)

2010 2010 Korea Tommorrow (SETEC)

The Seoul Ar t Exhibition 2010 (Seoul Museum of Ar t)

G20 Seoul Summit Celebration Exhibition for the

Korean Fine Ar ts (National Assembly Library)

Ar t Docking Spot (Woomyoung Ar t Museum)

KIAF-VIP Lounge (COEX)

Hongik Sculpture Exhibition

(Triennale di Milano Incheon Museum)

Sculpture Objects & Functional Ar t Fair (New York)

Multi Effect (Gallery Ihn)

30th Anniversary of the Young Korean Ar tists

(National Museum of Contemporary Ar t)

2009 A Korea& Singapore Joint Sculpture Exhibition

(Singapore-Botanic Garden)

Yangpyeong Environmental Ar t (South Han River)

Touchar t Book Ar tists(Touchar t Gallery)

2009 Korea International Ar t Fair (COEX)

Ar t Fair Taipei 2009 (Taiwan)

Like of Yves Saint Laurent (Gallery Ar tside)

Korean Aesthetics (Albemarle Gallery-U.K)

Mad for furniture (Nefspace)

Hong Kong Ar t Fair (Gallery Keumsan)

Korea Galleries Ar t Fair (BEXCO)

Step of a Bull (Jang Eun Sun Gallery)

The Great Hands (Hyundai Gallery)

2008 Second Lives: Remixing the Ordinary

(Museum of Ar ts and Design-New York)

Korea Now: Emerging Korean Ar t (Ar tLink-Israel)

Sanghai Contemporary Ar t Fair (Sanghai)

Korea International Ar t Fair (COEX)

Daegu Ar t Fair (EXCO)

Ar t Museum the Traveling

(National Museum of Contemporary Ar t)

Living Design fair (COEX)

Contemporary Neo_metaphor 2008 (Insa ar t center)

Seoul Ar t Fair (BEXCO)

Opening 10th Busan Municipal Museum of Ar t

(Busan Municipal Museum of Ar t)

Changwon Asian Contemporary Ar t Exhibition

(Changwon Art Hall)

Circle & Sqaure (N Gallery Planning Invitation Exhibition)

2007 Lee jaehyo,Park seungmo,Chio taehoon Group Exhibition

(Manas ar t center)

From Dot to Dot (Whanki Museum)

Living Design fair (Designer’s Choice-COEX)

Beijing Ar t Fair (China)

Tuning Boloni (China)

2006 Simply Beautiful (Centre PasquArt, Biel-Switzerland)

Ar t Canal (River Suze-Switzerland)

EHS Project (Cheonggyecheon-Seoul)

China International Gallery Exposition 2006 (Beijing-China)

Alchemy of Daily Life (New Zealand)

Vibration (EBS Broadcasting Exhibition Hall)

2005 Vibration (Seoul City Ar t Museum)

Hyogo International Competition of Painting

(Hyogo Prefecture Museum of Ar t-Japan)

Ar t & Mathematics (Savina Museum)

2004 A Open Commemoration the Olympic Museum (Olympic Museum)

100% Propose (Gallery Sea&See)

Imjin River (The Side of Imjin River)

Alchemy of Daily Life (National Museum of Contemporary Ar t)

Wave (Gallery Dosi)

2003 Out of Wood (Kim Chong-Yung Sculpture Museum)

The Happy Sympathy Between Human and Wood

(Daejeon Municipal Museum of Ar t)

Benchmarking Project (Namsan Park)

40`s Ar tist (Gallery Moro)

Ar t Bench (Ar t Side)

2002 To Became One with Nature (YungEun Museum)

International Environmental Ar t Exhibition a Red-bellied Frog’s Cry”

(Seoul Ar ts Center, Seoul)

DeulMok Association (Gallery Agio)

2001 Good Design Festival (KOEX)-Seoul

The Association of Asian Contemporary Sculpture

(YungEun Museum of Contemporary Ar t)

Lee Jae-Hyo, Han Sueng-Gon Exhibition (Hotel Lotte)

Water, Wood, Metal, Ear th, Live (Insa Ar t Gallery)

1991~2000 Par ticipated in more than 40 Group Exhibitions.

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This catalogue is published by HADA Contemporary to accompany the exhibition:

LEE JAEHYO SOLO EXHIBITION 2012[BEAUTIFUL DIALOGUE]VYNER STREET

3 - 30 MAY 2012

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