Lee, Unnamed Roads, 2010 - 2013
Recently I have become aware of Jungjin Lee, and I find myself drawn to her process. Her methodical and thoughtful approach to her environment is beautifully portrayed in the images she produces. She has spent many years visiting deserts, in the US and Isreal representing these spaces in a what I think is a very unique light. I am especially drawn to her series "Unnamed Road" photographing an area that she did not want to be in, yet she took her time to connect and reflect on her situation She states
''I meditated a lot, and I tried not to respond directly to how I felt, as what I felt was not always right but the situation made me like that and that was what made it different. I never before photographed a place that I didn’t want to be in. I always travel and photograph in a peaceful place, that’s the one big difference between my previous work and this one. I’m very glad that I’m finished and I’m very happy with what I did but I can’t forget that experience and I don’t want to go back to Israel.''
(JungJing Lee Paper Journal - 17 March 2015)
When looking at her work, you get a feel for the stillness and her exploring these places, trying to make sense of them, you feel a part of her observations. Something I am to produce in my work.
Lee, Unnamed Roads, 2010 - 2013
Lee's technique for printing her images is another reason I am drawn to her work. She works on mulberry paper that she has imported from Korea, then paints the emotion onto the paper to produce the prints. This results in beautiful images resembling charcoal drawings that are somewhat surreal, delicate and carefully thought out, which is the perfect conclusion to her whole process.
Reference:
Lee, Unnamed Roads 2010-2013 http://www.jungjinlee.com/israel
Lee, Unnaded Roads 2010 - 2013 http://www.jungjinlee.com/israel
Lee, Wind 2004 - 2007 http://www.jungjinlee.com/wind
Yasuyuki Takagi 2019 - https://vimeo.com/286792074