credits: Chulseung Lee

This work shows the process by which a living organism is born, grows, exists in its changing form, and eventually disappears. A microcosm, a calculated chaos, is created by growing salt in a petri dish known as a ‘schale’ in Korea (a 'schale' means a bowl in German) which is used to grow bacteria and microbes in the laboratory. A ‘schale’ is the most artificial place like a laboratory, but at the same time, it is filled with the most natural phenomena: life and death.

Salt, which is dried from seawater and exists in the form we are most used to, is dissolved again in water in this work and mixed with a pigment to cause a chemical reaction, and is ejected through holes on the surface of the object to form flower-like salt crystals. 
This salt crystal flower reacts sensitively to light, temperature, humidity, and wind like all living things. If any one of these is neglected, the salt crystal flower may wither or disappear completely. Conversely, at a point near death, if the environment is adjusted and it is fed again, it may come back to life and bloom even a larger flower.

In this work, you can hear the sound of life and growth of salt crystal flowers recorded during the actual work process.


A collaboration with Sujin Seo


schale
mixed media, 300 ⌀ x 100 (h) cm, 2021



credits: Chulseung Lee
alchemist
mixed media, 240 x 120 x 20 cm, 2021



탐석(貪石)
mixed media, 400 x 35 x 120 cm, 2021