이영학
Lee Younghak

“Stone has to absorb water to reveal its true color. Stone, water, and grass are the essence of life. The work expresses the desire to take a break from busy and hateful thoughts and to appreciate the things around us with love.”—excerpt from the artist statement

Lee Younghak uses rusty iron and old stones to breathe life into abandoned objects. After graduating from Seoul National University College of Fine Arts and studying Western sculptural culture for eight years in Rome, Italy, the birthplace of traditional European sculpture, the artist now focuses on the “beauty and spirit of Korea.” His series was inspired by the hwak (確)—the cavity in a traditional mortar. The artist personally collected perimeter stones and foundation stones from house sites and used a chisel and hammer to create various furrows, such as the Korean letter “ㄱ” (giyeok), window shapes, and maze shapes, and added clear water, moss, and grass. Through this process, he breathes new life into stones whose previous use has ended and recreates the endless communication and intersections between past and present, nature and humans. Filled with water, the basin reflects the surrounding scenery like a mirror, adorning the garden and serving as a vessel containing nature. In the phrase “laying the cornerstone,” which refers to laying the foundation or base of something, the original cornerstone refers to a stone placed under a pillar to strengthen the foundation of a building, functioning to transfer the load of the upper structure from the pillar to the ground. The cornerstone is observed in a three-dimensional manner in combination with other elements and simultaneously demonstrates the stability and aesthetic value of the building. In this exhibition, Lee Younghak presents the craft use of cornerstones and the elegance of granite through an installation work as an application of his garden space, transformed into the series.