LEE JAEHYOT R A N S F O R M A T I O N S

LEE JAEHYOT R A N S F O R M A T I O N S

Sequences and Patterns

This, the 29th solo exhibition of the sculptures of Lee Jaehyo reaffirms his reputation as a sculptor working to the highest technical standards and one with an instinctive sense for form.

While there is certainly a Land Art element to Lee’s work, this show in particular highlights less obvious aspects of his art; surface detail and numerical order. Lee shares an instinctive sense for good design and pattern with his fellow countryman Chun Kwang Young (b.1944) and this is most evident in the square work made from steel wire, 0121-1110=1100315 (No.17). The subtle variations in the sculpture’s tones suggest an Autumnal landscape and marry well with the archetypal, oblong 0121-1110=112092 Wood (camellia) (No.19) and 0121-1110=108114 Wood & fallen leaves (No.13) relief sculptures. These two works represent most acutely the artist’s interest in nature. But another work, 0121-1110=110093 (No.21), which shares, superficially, the same environmental concerns as the other two, is first and foremost an architectonic sculpture. It can best be described as a grill with partially opened apertures mimicking nature - and one is reminded of Lee’s dry leaf installations - but with a mechanical regularity absent from the natural world. The sculpture’s orange patina completes the deception, alluding as it does to the aureate colours of Autumn.

It is in the steel nail and calcified wood sculptures, which are perhaps his most recognisable works, that a new side to Lee’s art is revealed. The importance that the artist attaches to the polished nails, embedded in the blackened wood, in the context of the whole sculpture, highlight his presiding interest in surface detail. An obsession with finish is also a feature of his wooden sculptures. The surfaces of the big cone pine two piece sculpture, 0121-1110=111068 (No.6), is polished to a rich sheen, which enhances the natural design of the grain.

But the most significant concern of Lee, which this exhibition reveals, is his interest in geometry, which extends beyond a mere regard for pattern to an awareness of sequence and symmetry. The camellia wood tower, 0121-1110=112027 (No.16), iterates in wood the dot and line of the brush painter, forms (marks) that are the cornerstone of Asian art. Lee’s tower, like Brancusi’s, is without a capital. There is no formal conclusion to his conceit, and yet the pattern, he asks us to accept, persists ad infinitum.

Lee has created another tower of calcified wood and nails bent to the shape of Roman letters, in which the sequence and spacing of the surface language carries a meaning beyond the visually pleasing arrangement. The measured concentric rings of nails in 0121-1110=1090516 (No.2) mirror the age rings at the heart of a tree, but also suggest a carefully regulated sequence of signs that elude to a universal code or order. The architectonic concerns of the artist are revealed more clearly still in the squares constructed out of nails in 0121-1110=1081217 (No.9). Lee has created a cluster of large and small squares in an endlessly repeating sequence reminiscent of the recurrent pattern in his wooden tower.

Lee Jaeyho’s fundamental language is the line and the dot, which reflect the nail itself. In most works rings of steel or wood are used to create sequences that form patterns on the surface of an abstract form. There is something of the logic of the Japanese digital artist Tatsuo Miyajima (b.1957) in this approach to sculpture, with the crucial difference that Lee’s work is rooted in nature.

Dr. Iain RobertsonHead of Art Business Studies

Sotheby’s Institute of Art

This monumental sculpture was recently installed as part

of the Korean Eye 2012 exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery.

0121-1110=107041

Wood 520 x 520 x 520 cm (205 x 205 x 205 in)

This monumental sculpture was recently installed as part

of the Korean Eye 2012 exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery.

1 0121-1110=1110611

Wood (larch) 72 x 99 x 99 cm (28 x 39 x 39 in)

2 0121-1110=1090516

Stainless steel bolts, nails & wood 145 x 120 x 6 cm (57 x 47 x 2 in)

This monumental sculpture was recently installed as part

of the Korean Eye 2012 exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery.

3 0121-1110=111044

Stainless steel bolts, nails & wood 60 x 60 x 8 cm (24 x 24 x 3 in)

4 0121-1110=111127

Stainless steel bolts, nails & wood 35 x 106 x 106 cm (14 x 42 x 42 in)

4 0121-1110=111127

Stainless steel bolts, nails & wood 35 x 106 x 106 cm (14 x 42 x 42 in)

This monumental sculpture was recently installed as part

of the Korean Eye 2012 exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery.

5 0121-1110=1091015

Stainless steel bolts, nails & wood 210 x 210 x 8 cm (83 x 83 x 3 in)

6 0121-1110=111068

Wood (big cone pine) 57 x 84 x 126 cm & 52 x 55 x 79 cm (22 x 33 x 50 in & 20 x 22 x 31 in)

This monumental sculpture was recently installed as part

of the Korean Eye 2012 exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery.

7 0121-1110=1081220

Stainless steel bolts, nails & wood 40 x 69 x 8 cm (16 x 27 x 3 in)

8 0121-1110=112053

Stainless steel bolts, nails & wood 54 x 172 x 52 cm (21 x 68 x 20 in)

8 0121-1110=112053

Stainless steel bolts, nails & wood 54 x 172 x 52 cm (21 x 68 x 20 in)

9 0121-1110=1081217

Stainless steel bolts, nails & wood 90 x 180 x 7 cm (35 x 71 x 3 in)

This monumental sculpture was recently installed as part

of the Korean Eye 2012 exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery.

10 0121-1110=111048

Stainless steel bolts, nails & wood 53 x 53 x 8 cm (21 x 21 x 3 in)

11 0121-1110=1110610

Wood (chestnut) 44 x 75 x 114 cm (17 x 30 x 45 in)

This monumental sculpture was recently installed as part

of the Korean Eye 2012 exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery.

12 0121-1110=111014

Stainless steel bolts, nails & wood 50 x 50 x 6 cm (20 x 20 x 2 in)

13 0121-1110=108114

Wood & fallen leaves 80 x 80 x 8 cm (31 x 31 x 3 in)

This monumental sculpture was recently installed as part

of the Korean Eye 2012 exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery.

14 0121-1110=109041

Stainless steel bolts, nails & wood 60 x 175 x 9 cm (24 x 69 x 4 in)

15 0121-1110=1120812

Wood (aromatic) 33 x 100 x 100 cm (13 x 39 x 39 in)

15 0121-1110=1120812

Wood (aromatic) 33 x 100 x 100 cm (13 x 39 x 39 in)

This monumental sculpture was recently installed as part

of the Korean Eye 2012 exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery.

16 0121-1110=112027

Wood (camellia) 270 x 32 x 32 cm (106 x 13 x 13 in)

This monumental sculpture was recently installed as part

of the Korean Eye 2012 exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery.

17 0121-1110=1100315

Steel wire 80 x 80 x 5 cm (31 x 31 x 2 in)

18 0121-1110=1111223

Stainless steel bolts, nails & wood 36 x 41 x 36 cm (14 x 16 x 14 in)

This monumental sculpture was recently installed as part

of the Korean Eye 2012 exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery.

19 0121-1110=112092

Wood (camellia) 123 x 200 x 6 cm (48 x 79 x 2 in)

20 0121-1110=1081115

Stainless steel bolts, nails & wood 85 x 106 x 7 cm (33 x 42 x 3 in)

21 0121-1110=110093

Steel 109 x 240 x 5 cm (43 x 94 x 2 in)

22 0121-1110=1111012

Wood (larch) 86 x 86 x 22 cm (34 x 34 x 9 in)

23 0121-1110=108063

Stainless steel bolts, nails & wood 60 x 96 x 8 cm (24 x 38 x 3 in)

24 0121-1110=110066

Stainless steel bolts, nails & wood 98 x 61 x 8 cm (39 x 24 x 3 in)

0121-1110=104071 Commissioned for W Seoul Walker-Hill Hotel, Korea

Wood (camellia & chestnut) Variable Installation

LEE JAEHYO 1965 Born in Hapchen, Korea 1992 B.F.A in Plastic Arts, Hong-ik University

SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2012 Sungkok Museum (Korea) Cynthia-Reeves Contemporary (New York) Parkryesook Gallery (Korea) Dosi Gallery (Korea) HADA Contemporary (London) 2011 Albemarle Gallery (London) Galeria Ethra (Mexico) Galerie Noordeinde (Netherlands) Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts (Alabama) 2010 Yoon Gallery (Seoul) Albemarle Gallery (London) Nampo Art Museum (Korea) Kwai Fung Hin Gallery (Hong Kong) Cynthia-Reeves Contemporary (New York) 2009 Gallery Sol Beach (Korea) Ever Harvest Art Gallery (Taiwan) Gallery Keumsan (Japan) Albemarle Gallery (London) 2008 Manas Art Center (Korea) Bundo Gallery (Korea) Dosi Gallery (Korea) Reeves Contemporary (New York) 2007 Gallery Keumsan (Japan) Gallery Artside (China) Gallery Keumsan (Korea) 2006 Gallery Marin (Korea) 2005 Gallery Artside (Korea) 2003 Gallery Won (Korea) 2001 Vermont Studio Center (USA) 2000 Ilmin Museum of Art (Korea) 1996 Museum of Seoul Arts Center (Korea)

AWARDS 2008 Prize of Excellence of 2008 Olympic Landscape Sculpture Contest 2005 Prize of Excellence of Hyogo International Competition of Painting 2002 Sculpture in Woodland Award 2000 Kim Sae-Jung Young Artist Prize 1998 Grand Prize Winner of Osaka Triennial Winner of Young Artist of the Day Presented by the Ministry of Culture1997 Grand Prize Winner of Invited Young Artist sponsored by Hankook Ilbo 1995 Win Special Recognition at Kongsan Art Festival

PERMANENT COLLECTIONS National Museum of Contemporary Art (Korea) Moran Museum (Korea) Ilmin Museum of Art (Korea) Busan Municipal Museum of Art (Korea) Gyeonggi Museum of Morden Art (Korea) 63 City Tower (Korea) W-Seoul Walker-hill Hotel (Korea) Borgata Hotel (USA) Park Hyatt Hotel Shanghai (China) Osaka Contemporary Art Center of Japan (Japan) MGM Hotel (USA) Hyogo Prefecture Museum of Art (Japan) Intercontinental Hotel (Switzerland) Briton Place-UMU Restaurant (UK) Sculpture in Woodland (Ireland) Grand Hyatt Hotel (Taiwan) Park Hyatt Hotel Washington D,C (USA) Marriott Hotel (Korea) Cornell University Herbert F. Johnson Museum (USA) Grand Hyatt Hotel Berlin (Germany) President Wilson Hotel (Switzerland) Phoenix Island (Korea) Pusan National University Hospital (Korea) Industrial Bank (Taiwan) Crown Hotel (Australia) Park Hyatt Hotel Zurich (Switzerland) Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial (Japan)

0121-1110=105022 Commissioned for Intercontinental Hotel Geneva, Switzerland

Wood (larch) 90 x 220 x 220 cm (35 x 87 x 87 in)

GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2012 KIAF 2012 (COEX) Korean Eye, Saatchi Gallery (London) Aqueous, Albemarle Gallery (London) Contemporary Korean Art Since the 1990’s (Korea) China International Gallery Exposition (Beijing) Design Days Dubai (Dubai) A Magic Moment (Basel Art Center) Water (HADA Gallery-U.K)2011 International Sculpture Symposium in Icheon (Icheon) Moving Art Village (Nampo Art Museum) Hong Kong Art Fair 2011 (Hong Kong) Art Paris 2011 (Paris) SOFA New York 2011 (New York) Gotenyama Exhibition (Ippodo Gallery, Gotenyama) 2010 Korea Tommorrow (SETEC) The Seoul Art Exhibition 2010 (Seoul Museum of Art) G20 Seoul Summit Celebration Exhibition for the Korean Fine Arts (National Assembly Library) Art Docking Spot (Woomyoung Art Museum) KIAF-VIP Lounge (COEX) Hongik Sculpture Exhibition (Triennale di Milano Incheon Museum) Taipei Art Fair (Taipei) Shanghai Art Fair (Shanghai) Lee Jaehyo & Lee Jungwoong Exhibition (Beacon Gallery) Arcades Project (Inter Alia Gallery) San Francisco Fine Art Fair (Fort Mason Center-San Francisco) Hong Kong Art Fair (Hong Kong) Art Chicago (Merchandise Mart-Chicago) Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair (New York) Multi Effect (Gallery Ihn) 30th Anniversary of the Young Korean Artists (National Museum of Contemporary Art) Korea Galleries Art Fair (BEXCO) Living Art Fair (COEX) Arts and Crafts Collaboration (Icheon World Ceramic Center) 2009 A Korea & Singapore Joint Sculpture Exhibition (Singapore-Botanic Garden) Yangpyeong Environmental Art (South Han River) Touchart Book Artists (Touchart Gallery) Korea International Art Fair (COEX) Art Fair Taipei 2009 (Taiwan) Like of Yves Saint Laurent (Gallery Artside) Korean Aesthetics, Albemarle Gallery (London) Mad for furniture (Nefspace) Hong Kong Art Fair (Gallery Keumsan) Korea Galleries Art Fair (BEXCO) Step of a Bull (Jang Eun Sun Gallery) The Great Hands (Hyundai Gallery)

0121-1110=1080713 Private Collection

Wood (chestnut) 150 x 150 x 50 cm (59 x 59 x 20 in)

GROUP EXHIBITIONS (continued)

2008 Second Lives: Remixing the Ordinary (Museum of Arts and Design-New York) Korea Now: Emerging Korean Art (ArtLink-Israel) Sanghai Contemporary Art Fair (Sanghai) Korea International Art Fair (COEX) Daegu Art Fair (EXCO) Art Museum the Traveling (National Museum of Contemporary Art) Living Design fair (COEX) Contemporary Neo_metaphor 2008 (Insa art center) Seoul Art Fair (BEXCO) Opening 10th Busan Municipal Museum of Art (Busan Municipal Museum of Art) Changwon Asian Contemporary Art Exhibition (Changwon Art Hall) Circle & Sqaure (N Gallery Planning Invitation Exhibition)2007 Lee jaehyo,Park seungmo,Chio taehoon Group Exhibition (Manas art center) From Dot to Dot (Whanki Museum) Living Design fair (Designer’s Choice-COEX) Beijing Art Fair (China) Tuning Boloni (China) 2006 Simply Beautiful (Centre PasquArt, Biel-Switzerland) Art 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 Art Museum) Hyogo International Competition of Painting (Hyogo Prefecture Museum of Art-Japan) Art & 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 Art) Wave (Gallery Dosi) 2003 Out of Wood (Kim Chong-Yung Sculpture Museum) The Happy Sympathy Between Human and Wood (Daejeon Municipal Museum of Art) Benchmarking Project (Namsan Park) 40`s Artist (Gallery Moro) Art Bench (Art Side) 2002 To Became One with Nature (YungEun Museum) International Environmental Art Exhibition a Red-bellied Frog’s Cry” (Seoul Arts Center, Seoul) DeulMok Association (Gallery Agio) 2001 Good Design Festival (KOEX)-Seoul The Association of Asian Contemporary Sculpture (YungEun Museum of Contemporary Art) Lee Jae-Hyo, Han Sueng-Gon Exhibition (Hotel Lotte) Water, Wood, Metal, Earth, Live (Insa Art Gallery) 1991-2000 Lee Jaehyo has exhibited in over 40 group exhibitions

© ALBEMARLE GALLERY MMXXII

0121-1110=105081 Kangwon Land, Korea

Wood (chestnut) Variable Installation

ALBEMARLEG A L L E R Y