Core77

0121-1110=106062 - Jay-Hyo Lee

Jae-Hyo Lee's wood sculptures reveal both the unique organic quality of the natural material and the intervention of the artist's hand. Carved from a solid slab of wood, hundreds of nails are hammered into the surface and then carefully bent to create patterns that evoke the ripples of water or currents of air.

After scorching the entire surface of the work to achieve a rich black patina, Lee grinds the nails, exposing the raw silver metal in order to "draw a picture on wood using nails," according to the artist. He sees this process as a metaphor for both physical labor and the way in which such labor can create beauty.
madmuseum.org