Viewing Room | Dialogue by Lee Ufan

Beginning in 2006, the Dialogue series evolved from a discussion of time to a perception of wholeness and emptiness based on the artist's profound philosophy – “all things change in various ways, everything exists as it is, as it exists.” Thus, to truly show this world, “we have to try and do nothing.”

As an originator of the Mono-ha (School of Things) movement, Lee Ufan developed an esthetic that led him away from artifice toward the presentation – the acceptance of the object as it was. Minimalism, surrounded by the simplest accompaniments, carries the answer to the ideas of the innate integrity of the object, devoid of all embellishment.

Lee Ufan's work is informed by traditional East Asian art, particularly the aesthetic principles of Zen Buddhism and Taoism. It may be referred the work of Korean calligraphers and Japanese Zen painters as influences on his practice, and traditional Asian ink painting.

One of the key principles that Lee Ufan draws from traditional art is the idea of "ma," which can be translated as "negative space" or "interval." This refers to the idea that the space between objects is just as important as the objects themselves, and that the relationship between the two creates a sense of harmony and balance. Lee Ufan's works incorporate this idea of 'ma' by creating a dialogue between the object and the surrounding space, allowing the viewer to experience a sense of dynamic tension and balance.

"The study of philosophy and the contemplation of nature are both ways of cultivating a sense of wonder and awe, and of deepening our appreciation for the beauty and complexity of existence."