Reminiscence: Sungmi Lee

I have been working with transparent and changeable materials such as shards of broken glass, plexiglass, light, and smoke. I also explore the potential for beauty in everyday objects or discarded materials found on the street, transforming the identity of the material itself and focusing on changes that go beyond its original purpose. 

In particular, fragments of broken car glass collected from traffic accident sites play an important role in my work, which often addresses the unease of daily life. Materials marked by damage and misfortune, are carefully and repeatedly handled by hand, reborn as transparent, beautiful objects. 

The repeated layering of materials and images in my work reflects both the physical and mental processes involved in making it. It takes the form of personal rituals or prayers, and reflects acts of mediation. These rituals appear in my work, revealing aspects of my background and culture.