These epic paintings, rendered in great washes of red, seem simple at first glance, resembling depictions of traditional Korean landscapes; shards of white canvas contrasting with painstakingly detailed fragments of a land dotted with isolated dwellings. In fact, these are views of the mountainous terrain of the de-militarised zone between North and South Korea, giving them a political as well as a personal meaning for the artist.
He describes being in this area at night while on military service: 'I would wear night vision goggles, which coated everything in red. The forests and trees felt so fantastic and beautiful. It was unrealistic scenery filled with horror and fear, and with no possibility of entering.
Sea Hyun Lee was born in Geoje Island, South Korea in 1967. Graduating from M.F.A Chelsea College, London in 2006, he currently lives and works in London.
7 comments:
Amazing.
Ya, no doubt.
You can click on the middle one to make it bigger to truly appreciate what it painted on these canvases.
these are amazing. i'm curious, though-- if this is the DMZ, why are there buildings in the middle one? did he add them in just to imagine it, or...?
...because, isn't the DMZ empty of all human activity and occupation?
these blow my mind.
Wow. Love it.
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