Create charcoal drawings by hand! Korean artist Lee Pye dedicated his life to using charcoal to create a black and white minimalist world!

Although charcoal is a common material, in the hands of an artist, the black charcoal can transform into dynamic patterns on paper. Recently, Beauden (Hong Kong) held the fourth solo exhibition “Charcoal Paradigm” for Korean artist Lee Pei, showcasing Lee’s experimental contemporary monochromatic charcoal paintings created over decades of artistic career, as well as a rare series of uniquely shaped sculptural paintings that amazed the audience!

The “monochrome painting” movement began in South Korea in the 1970s, advocating for the creation of monochrome paintings with Zen-like qualities. In addition to pure artistic creation, painting monochrome works at that time was seen as a pursuit of spirituality and transcendence. Lee Pye was deeply influenced by Eastern philosophical thoughts at the time, actively practicing painting to hone his skills. Since 1989, he has chosen charcoal as his main medium for creation, continuously experimenting with innovative techniques to explore the possibilities of charcoal.

In the “Brushstrokes” series, Lee uses charcoal as a medium to interpret classic Korean calligraphy in the form of ink wash painting. He utilizes residual charcoal powder as ink material to draw dynamic strokes on paper, leaving a significant amount of white space in the image symbolizing “emptiness,” presenting a sense of balance and cycle in life in his works.

The other iconic series “Rebirth through Fire” features sculptural paintings with a unique form. In this series, the artist personally burns charcoal in his studio in Cheongdo County, then cuts them into hundreds of dazzling charcoal pieces, thoroughly polishes the surface of the charcoal, and finally assembles these charcoal pieces in the painting. From different angles of light, the work reflects an infinite spectrum of black. As the artist says, “Black is the sum of all colors.” His black and white works show the audience the infinite possibilities of a single color.

The works “Landscape” and “Rebirth by Fire” are both made of charcoal on the surface. The artist first uses charcoal fragments to create a dull black charcoal layer, then breaks it to shape a natural contour, and finally arranges it on a white canvas. To showcase the dense and solid form of charcoal, Lee also uses rough sandpaper to polish the black surface, highlighting unique textures. Lee conducts material experiments with charcoal, making the works appear two-dimensional from a distance, only to reveal their unique forms up close.

The artist has been creating with charcoal for many years, viewing art not only as a practice of self-reflection but also seeking breakthroughs in the art world through different innovative techniques. Don’t miss the chance to see how Li Pei skillfully uses charcoal to create a ever-changing black and white world at this exhibition!

Li Pei Solo Exhibition: “Charcoal Paradigm”
Date: From now until September 11th
Location: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM (Closed on Mondays and Sundays)
Address: Room 807, K11 ATELIER Victoria Dockside, Tsim Sha Tsui, Pui Ho Court (Hong Kong)

Learn more: Bae Lee (Hong Kong)