Lee Gil Rae

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About the artwork

A sweeping network of copper branches unfolds with quiet confidence, expanding outward in a steady, breath-like rhythm. The structure feels grounded yet fluid, capturing growth in suspension. Its textured surface echoes the fissures of aged bark, evoking endurance shaped over time. Despite its industrial material, the sculpture radiates warmth and familiarity. There is a contemplative stillness embedded within its form, inviting a slower gaze. It becomes less a depiction of a tree and more a reflection of memory - nature reconstructed, yet still carrying the weight and wisdom of something ancient and deeply rooted.

About the artist

For decades, Lee Gil Rae has used nature as his muse and crafted sculptures from steel and copper pipes. In his persistent need to create organic forms Lee Gil-Rae takes it one step further in creating man-made nature. His works consist of surreal, leafless forests that one can meander into, with spiralling branches that are unnatural in structure but organic in aesthetic. These draw the viewer in to witness the intricate exteriors that mimic the curves and notches of aged tree bark. His sprawling branches fan out and are tipped with wisps of copper representing the needles of the pine trees, in true homage to Mother Nature. With rapid deforestation, Lee Gil-Rae's trees narrate the artificial nature that city dwellers so closely identify with. The man-made and constructed simulation of nature is apparent in all towns and cities. Nature is removed and confined to make room for the ever-expanding population.