Circle of Being

• Photographer
  Wonchul Lee, Korea, Republic of
• Studio
  not company

‘Trees and Graves’

‘Circle of being’ is the series based on trees and graves as subject
matters. The tree sprouts, blossoms and fruits from spring to
autumn. Then, they are naturally fallen into the ground, decay into
manure during winter, and again become to aliment the fresh green
shoots in spring. Like the above, not only our gene, spirit, and
lesson that have come from an ancestor but also our life itself lead
to the next generation. To put this idea, trees and graves that are
not dissimilar with handing down the pedigree of human-being has
been in my work.
In general, trees stand for the life and graves are regarded as a
representative object of the death. However, they can be
considered inversely. Trees seem to be looked an organism, but
there are also the countless and repetitive passing in trees for
another life. Graves do not simply signify the end of life. Rather,
they also involve people's desire that prolongs the immortal life for
their soul. Trees and graves are not subjectively considered as the
fixed ideas respectively in the work because they say both the
death and life simultaneously.

• Awards
  Solo Exhibition 15 times, Group Exhibition about 130 times Awards, Grant and Residency - Surim Photo Prize, Youngeun Art Studio, Exchange Programs with International Organizations, Project Space in Beijing, Grant for Culture Art Funds, fromS Residency, Gana Jangheung Atelier, Grant for SeMA Young Artist Exhibition supporting program, POSCO Steel Art Award, Song Eun Finearts Prize, Joongang Finearts Prize, Nanji Art Studio