In his “New Armor” collection, South Korean designer Kwangho Lee (b. 1981) combines traditional craft techniques with a modern design language, skillfully bridging the gap between past and present.
Lee was inspired for his New Armor series by the body armor of the Joseon Dynasty, a dynasty in Korea that lasted 500 years (around 1400 – 1900). It includes variations of seating furniture, including a chair and a stool, which are characterized in particular by their abstract and minimalist design.
Kwangho Lee made the objects from bronze, one of the first man-made alloys. He then covers some areas of the finished pieces with Hanji paper and seals them with traditional Ottchill lacquer. This is a lacquer made from the sap of rhus trees. The lacquer is processed until it is clear and is then applied to the object. This finish creates a high-gloss surface that emphasizes the underlying texture of the paper and forms a striking contrast to the matt metal background.
Lee himself draws parallels between his “New Armor” series and his earlier “Skin” series, in which he worked with copper. He sees the bronze in his current work as a continuation of that earlier practice, with the new material creating a kind of contemporary archaeology. “New Armor” is like carefully restored antique finds that he wants to share with the public.1
Kwangho Lee, who graduated in metal art and design from Hongik University, pursues an artistic practice that is strongly inspired by his childhood memories. Lee’s ongoing exploration of different materials such as marble, copper, enamel and steel illustrates his desire to emphasize the fusion and interaction of materials in his work.
