Lee So-ra South Korean, b. 1967

Textile artist Lee So-ra reinterprets ‘Jogakbo’, the traditional Korean patchwork crafted from segments of salvaged fabrics, as a medium for contemporary artworks. Informed by her studies in German literature and her affinity with the early modernist art movement, Lee integrates these influences into her compositions of lines and shapes. Her pieces evoke abstracted architectural forms and the intricate designs found in stained glass. This juxtaposes with her mastery of traditional hand-stitching techniques and use of delicate, unassuming materials.

Using natural Osaka silk known for its subtle hues and translucent texture, her works posses a gentle, ethereal quality. While some pieces are left untouched to preserve their raw state, for others Lee uses homegrown botanicals to dye the textiles, resulting in a serene colour palette across her works. Following multiple dyeing sessions, she meticulously cuts the fabric into small segments and treats them with rice starch. Each fragment undergoes an intricate double-hemming process, uniquely hers, before being intricately sewn together to form her expansive artworks. She arranges the fragments spontaneously, allowing her intuition to guide the creation of geometric patterns. Employing her precise ‘Saamssol'stitching technique, the level of detail can only be fully appreciated up close.

The elegance of her work comes from its restraint and refinement. This quiet serenity is inherent in her processes, beginning with the careful preparation of materials through repeated hand washing to maintain their pristine quality, and extending to countless days of tranquil labor, stitching in solitude. For her, the process of making has a meditative quality, fostering purity of thought and mind; this can be felt when experiencing her work. 

Public Collection (selected)

The Honolulu Museum of Art, Hawaii, USA
The Museum of Vancouver, Vancouver, Canada