Lee Ufan: The Art of Dualities

In Lee Ufan’s world, every stone, every brushstroke, every space matters. His minimalist works are not just objects or paintings; they are conversations between presence and emptiness, between structure and space. Through these delicate contrasts, Lee crafts a quiet harmony, inviting viewers to pause, observe, and feel the subtle tension that gives life to simplicity.

Lee Ufan is a quiet revolutionary of perception. Born in Korea and later active in Japan, he became a key figure in the Mono-ha movement, a group of artists who sought to reveal the relationships between materials and the spaces they inhabit. 

In Lee’s practice, nothing is accidental: stones rest with intent, steel plates lean with purpose, and every brushstroke speaks to the emptiness surrounding it. His art is a meditation on balance, encouraging viewers to engage with not just what is present, but with the space that gives it meaning.

Step into a Relatum installation, and you enter a world where objects converse with each other and the room itself. Stones placed beside steel, brushstrokes suspended on white canvas, they do not shout, but they speak. 

Each element is deliberate, each interaction subtle, creating moments of tension that resolve into harmony. Lee’s works are about noticing: the weight of a stone, the reflection on steel, the silence of empty space. It is in these small, intentional encounters that his art reveals its depth.

For Lee, art is not about filling space; it is about feeling it. His work explores dualities: structure and emptiness, material and void, presence and absence. These contrasts are deliberate, generating a quiet tension that invites contemplation. 

Every element, whether stone, steel, or stroke, is an exercise in patience and awareness. In experiencing his art, the viewer participates in a rhythm, a delicate equilibrium where opposites coexist, and where silence has as much significance as form.

Lee Ufan’s visual language is deceptively simple. Minimal forms, restrained colours, clear lines, and careful spacing create a rhythm that is felt as much as it is seen. Proportion and placement are deliberate, and the spaces between objects are as meaningful as the objects themselves. 

In this simplicity, Lee captures complexity: a serene yet dynamic interplay, a gentle dialogue between the tangible and the intangible. The eye learns to linger, the mind begins to measure, and the viewer discovers the beauty of presence within absence.

The influence of Lee Ufan extends far beyond the gallery. His philosophy of space, restraint, and rhythm inspires design, fashion, and interiors that honour the interplay of elements. Like his art, a thoughtfully layered collection can allow each piece to breathe, to occupy its own space, and yet contribute to a cohesive whole. 

His legacy is a reminder that harmony often arises not from abundance, but from attention, intention, and contrast, a lesson that resonates in both life and art.