By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Large rocks and iron plates of various sizes are carefully placed throughout the Kukje Gallery New Hall as part of renowned artist Lee Ufan's solo exhibition ``Sculpture,'' which runs through Oct. 9.
They might baffle some, but Lee's works seek to emphasize ``the interrelationship between two unique elements, natural stones and iron plates, within the space,'' Kukje Gallery said.
``Lee Ufan, an artist, writer and philosopher, observes the relationship between objects that encounter the external world and the space embracing them,'' it said.
The 73-year-old Lee, who was in Seoul for the opening of his show, said he only acts as a moderator between the rocks and iron plates. The rocks and iron plates may have both come from nature, but they symbolize nature and man-made structures, respectively.
``I brought them together and let them communicate,'' he said at a press conference at the gallery.
This is Lee's first solo show in Seoul in six years. It features 10 installation pieces with these rocks, iron plates and poles laid out on the gallery's floors.
In ``Relatum ― Silence,'' Lee placed a large rock in front of a large black iron plate. In another piece, ``Relatum ― Dissonance,'' two iron poles are placed between rocks on the floor. Such works may seem quite enigmatic for viewers.
`` Through the artist, the stone lets go of its natural quality, allowing it to move closer to human nature. Likewise, iron plates let go of their artificial quality in order to step closer to nature. Stone and iron plates, consequently, are placed in a process of reconciliation,'' the gallery said.
Lee said he used the exhibition space as part of the installation exploring the interaction of the various elements.