When entering a new space, furniture gives us an idea about the place and the people living in it. Put differently, furniture is not simply a functional object, but also a sculptural one, representing an individual’s taste and interests. Kwangho Lee’s works presented in Indefinite Objects freely cross the boundary between design and art, achieving a high integration of artistry and practicality.

 

It is hard to say that Kwangho Lee’s work is made for one single usage. In fact, the artist welcomes different viewers’ ideas on what his works are made for. This kind of openness is manifested in his creative process. Instead of changing the intrinsic property of his materials, he embraces their unique properties to change the way in which these materials are put together to produce a certain form.

 

Lee collects materials that are commonly found in his daily environment and transforms them in unconventional ways. He takes sheets of styrofoam and molds them into a chair using a hot wire foam cutter. He collects

scraps of cut-out styrofoam pieces and reassembles them into a lamp shade. His experiment with materials continues with pvc hoses and polyester fibers, producing a series of woven lamps, couches, and stools. His works also include benches made of wood and marble, the materials most commonly used in interior design. Through this endless experimentation with various materials, the artist creates new possibilities of what furniture is made of and made for.

 

Breaking away from a paradigm that puts functionality and artistry in a spectrum, Kwangho Lee produces works in which functional and aesthetic qualities work in synergy.  The authentic qualities of each material work in balance with the piece's new purpose. Through this exhibition, we hope viewers will have an opportunity to think about furniture as a medium of artistic expression - an object with indefinite, unbounded potential. Through this new perspective with furniture, we look forward to exploring other creative ways to approach the art of design. 

 

Curator Kyungmin Lee

 

Translated by Chae Lin Suh