Hyeryeong Lee

Hyeryeong Lee creates glass paintings and objects that portray particular moments within infinite time. She sees each moment as an amalgamation of history, culture, and the heritage of nature. “Contemplating how I am, in a particular moment, helps me discover different perspectives of life. It helps me imagine the world before me and how it affects me. Everything is intertwined, becoming a particular state of being that prompts me to savour every moment.”

In her work, Hyeryeong utilizes different forms of mineral inclusions to express a sense of belonging with this intertwined existence. In nature, minerals are formed by the availability of certain elements, temperature and pressure variations, which are processed over countless years. Different combinations of geological factors and conditions lead to specific mineral formations such as cobalt, copper, and iron.

Hyeryeong mixes glass frits with various minerals, then uses it to create numerous layers. Each layer overlaps another and melts into a paradoxically fragile, yet strong state.  Individual elements are torn, combined, and melted into forms that seem to freeze a moment in time. The minerals reveal the colour hues of the natural world: mossy greens, earthy reds, and pale blues of the sky. The sense of incompleteness and decay in her work reflects the delicate nature of interconnectedness and complexity in time.