Spiritual Connection (2022)
Hanji paper (Korean Mulberry paper), ink, acrylic, cotton thread and pebbles
Spiritual Connection creates an ephemeral and spiritual installation which pays homage to my father. He was a devout Buddhist, passing away in South Korea recently. His funeral was performed in the Buddhist tradition over 49 days. I have chosen to mirror this tradition by creating prayers written onto hanji papers and tied to string each day for the 49 days. These are attached to trees and allowed to float with the wind, the prayers become an acknowledgement of grief, redemption and the universal connection we all have with the cycle of life.
About the Artist
Hyun Hee Lee was born in Korea and now lives on Gadigal Country in Sydney’s East. Her work traverses the traditional Korean and Western art practices, as she aims to establish a spiritual and cultural connection with her country of birth. Hyun Hee achieves this by recreating and re-contextualising traditional religious, cultural practices and customs in a contemporary context. She has a BFA (honours) from NAS, an MFA from UNSW Art & Design, and was awarded the John Coburn Emerging artist award in the Blake Prize. Hyun Hee has completed residencies at La Cite International des Arts in Paris and the Redgate residency in Beijing. She is represented by Artereal Gallery, Sydney.
Transcription
My name is Hyun Hee Lee, and I am a Korean and Australian artist.
I migrated from Korea to Australia about 20 years ago and I had a Bachelor of Fine Arts and honours in the National Art School and I did my Master of Fine Arts by research from UNSW Art and Design. My title is Spiritual Connection and the work creates an ephemeral and spiritual installation which pays homage for my father. He was a devoted to Buddha and passing away in South Korea about two years ago. His funeral was performed in the Buddhist tradition over 49 days.
I have chosen to mirror traditions by creating prayers written on Korean Mulberry papers and tied to string each day for the 49 days. So these are attached to the trees and allowed to float with the wind, the prayers become an acknowledgement of grief and the universal connections we all have with the circle of life. My art practice, now, I have written prayers which is Buddhist mantra on yellow side with Korean Mulberry Paper and pulled it and then tied creating a loose knot.
I have tied there's approximately 30, it's about three meter long length of cotton strings. In total there will be the 49 lengths of strings with approximately 30 tied prayers papers on each string. So there will be hung in groups of seven, forming seven groups of seven in total. So all together will be seven multiple seven will be the forty nine strings in the tree. When I returned from Korea after attending my father's funeral two years ago then, the grief and shock over his passing was for me unbelievable, especially when I had to return to Australia and I leave my family.
So I was looking for a feeling as well as to honour my father in my own personal way. So with my work in that I am able to achieve this, as if I were sharing my thoughts and the feeling with the others who have lost a loved one. So audience will take the being able to take time and contemplate on the artwork. said in a specific place, allowed the audience to reflected upon the prayer meaning that present themselves in the work. So my prayer expressed a connection to faith and an acknowledgement of the universal connection we all have.
So I hope the audience developed the spiritual connection with their lost ones, experience peace and comfort a positive environment.