Siwon Lee
Wood sculptor
Goyang-si, South Korea
Wood as a guide to making
- Siwon allows wood's grain to shape her final pieces
- Her process emphasises surface finishings
- Through her Gugit series, she explores the idea of place, sculpture and utility
Trained in woodcraft at Hongik University, Siwon Lee developed a strong foundation in both the scientific structure of wood and its practical manipulation. Rather than following a traditional master-apprentice path, her practice has evolved through independent exploration, driven by a desire to create self-directed work. Siwon's early pieces focused on shaping standardised hardwood into defined forms, but the approach has since expanded to embrace a wider range of materials, including solid and softer woods. "Today, my process is guided less by predetermined design and more by the inherent qualities of the material itself," she says. Grain, texture and natural irregularities are no longer constraints for Siwon, but active elements that inform each piece, resulting in works that balance intention with organic emergence.
INTERVIEW
The grain weight and time held in wood guide my work. Rather than forcing a fixed idea, I follow the direction suggested by the material itself. Its organic nature creates unexpected variations allowing each piece to carry a sense of time and living presence.
The finishing is the most crucial stage in my process. The way a surface is treated can greatly change colour, grain and texture shaping the overall atmosphere of the work. It defines how the piece is perceived and how its material qualities are revealed.
I want my works to shape the atmosphere of a space. I am interested in how objects transform spatial perception and shared experience. Through tactile wood surfaces, viewers may sense a quiet ritual moment or feel a new weight within the space around them.
My work often explores wood as mass resulting in heavy forms. While I value this weight, I want to explore lighter more functional objects. I am exploring how to connect utility with my current process of carving into wood to reveal its inner grain.
