The Rose: Hye Rim Lee

My digital print series made from 3d animation use sophisticated computer programmes to drive the viewer’s thoughts, while mixing the older technique of photography with dazzling 3D digital effects of glossy glass and gold that optimise perspective, texture and reflection. I always aim to provide my audience with a profound aesthetic pleasure through my captivating 3d animation project.

The Rose Series marks the dawn of the next chapter in my project, first evolving and reshaping beauty from the Black Rose animation (2021) by embracing a lighter colour palette consisting of pastels and vibrant hues imbued with profound symbolic meanings. Drawing inspiration from the rose hues featured in the White Rose animation (2022), these artworks symbolize love and royalty. Of particular significance is the inclusion of a delicate pale pink rose, present both in the animation and the Rose Series, which serves as a profound connection to Lee's identity and spirituality.

“The South Korean national flower is a pale pink one called mugunghwa which comes from the word mugung meaning immortal or everlasting. The same flower is also known as the Rose of Sharon and is actually a pale pink flower from the Hibiscus genus. As the Rose of Sharon it appears in the Song of Songs, a series of lyrical poems in the Bible. While many interpretations and meanings have been found in the Song of Songs, all of them have love and intimacy at the heart. For Lee, the narrative is a spiritual journey of intimacy in which ‘the bride desires to be touched by the Word of God because she knows that His love is far better than all the pleasures of the world’. Charlotte Huddleston, Art NZ 2021.

In 2023, the series has undergone an evolution towards darker color palettes accompanied by a velvety texture. A new printing technique on photo rag has been introduced, enhancing the painterly effect within the series. As I prepare for my solo exhibition, I am incorporating these new colors into the primary exhibition space.
Within the Rose series, the colors and textures serve as powerful symbols, depicting the depth and diverse attributes of TOKI's transformation. Notably, the Gold Rose stands as a representation of God's might, glory, immortality, and resurrection. It embodies concepts of purity, refinement, rebirth, and the emergence of a new identity