WHAT
The acclaimed Korean artist’s monochromatic practice is a formal and immersive journey into the abysses of blackness. Subtly blurring the lines between drawing, painting, sculpture, and installation, he has developed his abstract aesthetics to imbue the non-colour with tangible depth and intensity. His second solo show in Mainland China, the artworks on view comprise Lee Bae’s recent large drawings from the ‘Brushstroke’ series, along with three sculptures, which reflect the artist’s interest in exploring the three-dimensional aspect of his two-dimensional works.

WHY
A visually moving and deeply spiritual show, the presentation exemplifies what Lee
Bae’s unique practice has been focussing on for the past three decades: What can be expressed by the specific medium of charcoal? What does charcoal want to express? By listening to the voice of charcoal, Lee seeks to activate the memory deeply embedded in his body, by which he guides the movement of his hand. Charcoal has unique meanings in Korean tradition, believed to dehumidify houses and ward off evil forces. In a way, the monochromatic exhibition is a metaphor for a spiritual cleansing.