HdM Gallery is pleased to present “Inflowing Ground”, the latest solo exhibition by artist Lee Jin Woo, set to open on April 9th. The exhibition features 16 recent works by Lee Jin Woo, whose low-saturation colors visually calm the viewers down, prompting them to contemplate the void of life through meditative repetition. The exhibition will remain on view until May 10th.
The materiality
The primary creative material of Lee Jin Woo originates from the ground, utilizing charcoal and hanji (traditional Korean paper) to expand the materiality of his works. Charcoal and hanji, characterized by the simplicity of their extraction and ease of use, are among the most common and basic materials in both Eastern and Western painting.The artist layers hanji over arranged charcoal blocks, sprays the surface with water, and repeatedly brushes them with a metal brush, allowing the paper pulp to penetrate the charcoal. Under consistent pressure, cracks appear in the charcoal. This process is repeated dozens of times, with repetition serving as a crucial creative concept for Lee Jin Woo. The act of covering with mulberry paper serves to clear his cluttered thoughts through intense physical exhaustion, leaving physical traces on the canvas as time passes.
Inner reflection
The exhibition’s title,“Inflowing Ground”, draws from the Taoist idea that“water benefits all things without contention, and the earth carries all things without words.”On the one hand, it reflects Lee Jin Woo’s humble and unpretentious nature, on the other hand, it highlights his integration of art and nature, transcending established frameworks. Inspired by the earth’s power to embrace all things, Lee Jin Woo transforms the creative process into a simulation of landform evolution. The charcoal develops fissures under friction, while the soft paper layers fill the gaps, connecting the blocks into rugged“hills”. In this process, Lee Jin Woo views his art as an inquiry into self-identity, diminishing the role of the“creator”and simplifying color and titles to minimize distractions for the viewer. Through his works, the force of life is imprinted as an eternal carrier.
