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Unraveling Ceramic Sculptures Are an Eloquent Reminder of Quickly Passing Time

Seoul-based artist Haejin Lee creates ceramic works that look as though they'll unravel at any moment. Concentrating primarily on the human body, the sculptor fashions heads and feet that look mostly whole, but have ribbon-like strands rippling from the top of each piece. They appear in various stages of disarray, with facial features that have been twisted and multiplied, which adds another facet of eeriness to the already-surreal works.

Lee's sculptures are beautifully crafted, yet have a sense of unease about them. The edges' untangling appear as a symbol that things are going awry. For the human body, this could signify a loss of control or consciousness, like we're not who we once were. Lee applies this same sentiment to time by producing a clock, conveying the feeling that the hours are gone before you realize it. These works stand as an eloquent reminder to cherish what we have in the present rather than constantly fretting about the unforeseeable future.

Haejin Lee: Website | Instagram
h/t: [DesignFaves]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met and Manager of My Modern Met Store. She is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art where she earned her BFA in Illustration and MFA in Illustration Practice. Sara is also an embroidery illustrator and writer living in Seattle, Washington. She runs Bear&Bean, a studio where she stitches pet portraits and other beloved creatures. She chronicles the creativity of others through her website Brown Paper Bag and newsletter, Orts. Her latest book is Threads of Treasure: How to Make, Mend, and Find Meaning Through Thread, published in 2014. Sara’s work has been recognized in Be Creative With Workbox, Embroidery Magazine, American Illustration, on Iron and Wine’s album Beast Epic, among others. When she’s not stitching or writing, Sara enjoys planning things that bring together the craft community. She is the co-founder of Camp Craftaway, a day camp for crafty adults with hands-on workshops in the Seattle area.
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