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A black and white abstract pattern of hundreds of small, white curved lines. The lines are densely packed in the centre, creating a swirling, textured effect against a dark background.

Jaehyo Lee creates bewildering forms from simple materials and high-craft

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Date
9 May 2012

Jaehyo Lee is a Korean artist who has a very distinctive way of manipulating form, not just through moulding but by cutting, in a way totally un-compromised by the natural shape of the original material. Working with basic materials, Jaehyo performs simple albeit labour-intensive operations, in particular, with nails in charred wood. The nails protrude in a perfectly measured surface, their heads bent in strategic directions so that the overall impression is one of movement and changing depth with each nail looking like a mark on paper. These meticulously constructed physical drawings are a bewildering thing in the flesh and lucky for us in London, they are now on show at the Hada Contemporary until May 30.

Six black, egg-shaped sculptures with intricate, textured surfaces are scattered across a pale grey floor. The organic forms are covered in a dense, web-like pattern of raised lines.
Above

Jeahyo Lee: 0121-1110=105102, 2005

A square black and white painting featuring a dense, swirling pattern of small white curved lines. The lines spiral outwards from the centre, creating a rhythmic, hypnotic texture across the canvas.
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Jeahyo Lee: 0121-1110=1090516, 2009

A rectangular sculpture with a dense, undulating surface of silver metallic ribbons. The ribbons twist and swirl across the piece, creating a shimmering, liquid effect against a white wall.
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Jeahyo Lee: 0121-1110=108063, 2008

A large, oval sculpture sits on a concrete floor against a plain white wall. The piece is covered in a dense, swirling pattern of black and white lines.
Above

Jeahyo Lee: 0121-1110=108084, 2008

An abstract illustration of a dense, tangled web of white scribbled lines on a black background. The composition is divided into a loose grid of rectangular sections, each filled with chaotic, looping marks.
Above

Jeahyo Lee: 0121-1110=106052, 2006

A painting of a dense, swirling mass of white curved lines on a black background. The lines are tightly packed in the centre, creating a bright focal point that radiates outwards.
Above

Jeahyo Lee: 0121-1110=109122, 2009

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About the Author

Bryony Quinn

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Bryony was It’s Nice That’s first ever intern and worked her way up to assistant online editor before moving on to pursue other interests in the summer of 2012.

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