By Honorary Reporter George Barker from U.K.

I visited the gallery Mokspace in London on Feb. 2 to see the exhibition "Lee Youngsil: Ceramic Gardens in Bloom," featuring fusion art and mixed media by the eponymous artist. Located just steps away from the British Museum, the gallery since 2011 has promoted Korean art in the U.K.

A graduate of Dongduk Women's University in Seoul, Lee has exhibited her works at over 320 group shows and 30 solo exhibitions in countries like France, China and the U.S. In London from Jan. 4 to Feb. 3, her "Ceramic Gardens" collection showed how she was inspired by the five traditional Korean colors obangsaek (white, black, blue, yellow and red) and motifs of flowers and birds.

Seeing 20 of her works at the exhibition, I found each piece mixing modern and classic touches, blending vibrant imagery with tactile ceramic elements.

One work that particularly impressed me was a porcelain vase in the classic maebyeong (plum blossom) shape from the Joseon Dynasty, with a dark purple background and beautiful flowers. Lee's work is infused with a sense of nostalgia, evoking idyllic scenes of nature by incorporating ceramic elements into the painting to create a stunning fusion art style.

Another work I liked ceramic elements on a flower vase with two smiling fish, water lily flower and cute little bird in the background. The artist shows many beautiful elements in her works related to Korean culture.

The exhibition was an amazing opportunity to see how Lee transformed her ideas into beautiful art. I also learned more about Korean culture through her works.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.