Art as Furniture - article for Dornob magazine about Lee Jae Hyo wood sculptor

1. Art as Furniture, Furniture as Art
July 23rd 2015 by Eileen O’Sullivan
For years sculptor Lee JaeHyo lived with his wife, fellow
sculptor Cha Jong Rae in solitude and relative poverty, in
Yanpyeong, Korea. ‘We started off in a cow shed’, she said, in
the video ‘Return to Nature‘ in which Jaehyo shows us around
his factory workshop on the original site.
He forges his signature ‘Wooden Sphere’ sculptures by
intertwining fallen timber into globe shapes, then burning them
to a black, charred state. By polishing off the outer edges he
creates a strong contrast of blonde wood and black interior. “I
believe you can get more of a ‘wow’effect’ when you create a
striking piece from everyday common materials” he said. Many
are placed in high-end international hotel lobbies and he is
gaining global recognition, with art exhibitions around the
world.

2. ‘The globe is the simplest form that demonstrates the wood’s
original energy”, explains Lee. “No corners no angles. I like to
make the most out of the material’s inherent feeling.”

4. Function follows form in strikingly beautiful and tactile pieces
that recycle and recreate, and cry out to be touched, hugged
or lounged upon. The creative process is hard, tough – using
fire, brute force and manpower. The end result is almost
ethereal in its perfection. “Every tree has unique growth rings
and colors,” says Lee.
Lee JaeHyo’s other trademark sculptures are his pieces made
from stainless steel nails and bolts, hammered and bent into
wood. To determine the placement of the nails he scatters
stones on the surface, then marks where they land to form a
template for hammering. “This is more natural and accidental
than deliberate human placement”. The whole is then torched
until it is blackened, and the nails are highly polished to form a
contrast.
“I have a lot of work to do. More changes are expected,” the
sculptor says of his artworks made from found objects – wood,
metal and suspended stones.

5. According to his wife, Cha Jong Rae: “He firmly believes that he
is a sculptor. He never gave up, even amidst economic
hardships.” Her husband expresses it this way: “Here I am still
hammering away in this digital age.”
Lee JaeHyo, this digital age salutes you.
All quotes from the ‘Return to Nature’ video.
Read more: http://dornob.com/art-as-furniture-furniture-as-
art/#ixzz3haBJ93dm