Daljip-burning for first full moon a work of art by Lee Bae

Arts & Design

Published: 29 Feb. 2024, 15:31 Updated: 29 Feb. 2024, 17:01

Daljip-burning for first full moon a work of art by Lee Bae

Korean artist Lee Bae's daljip, or moon house, gets set up in Cheongdo, north Gyeongsang, on Feb. 24, the day of Jeongwol Daeboreum, or the first full moon of the year [SANGTAE KIM, COURTESY OF THE ARTIST AND JOHYUN GALLERY]

A large daljip, or moon house, was set on fire in Cheongdo County, North Gyeongsang, on Saturday — the day of Jeongwol Daeboreum, or the first full moon of the year. This traditional seasonal ritual of burning an igloo-shaped daljip, which is created using a bundle of straw, bamboo and pine branches, is usually conducted on the day of Jeongwol Daeboreum to ward off evil spirits.

This year's ceremony, however, was no regular daljip-burning ritual that the county usually organizes, but a work of art by renowned artist Lee Bae.

A Traditional Korean instrumental piece and dance known as pungmulnori is performed on Saturday before burning the daljip, or the moon house, in Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang. [SANGTAE KIM, COURTESY OF THE ARTIST AND JOHYUN GALLERY]

According to Johyun Gallery, which represents the 68-year-old artist, Lee decided to exhibit the ritual in his hometown of Cheongdo to announce the beginning of his solo show that will be held as an officially affiliated side exhibition of the upcoming Venice Biennale, the 60th International Art Exhibition running from April 20 to Nov. 24.

Wishes collected from around the world were written on hanji, or Korean traditional paper, and tied to Lee's daljip. [SANGTAE KIM, COURTESY OF THE ARTIST AND JOHYUN GALLERY]

Wishes from around the world were collected, written down on traditional Korean paper known as hanji, and tied to the daljip. The footage of this process will be made into a video installation titled “Burning” (2024), and will be screened during the exhibition in Venice, the gallery said.

The artist's daljip is set on fire on Saturday in Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang. [SANGTAE KIM, COURTESY OF THE ARTIST AND JOHYUN GALLERY]

Lee is one of the Korean artists who brought the country's monochrome paintings known as dansaekhwa to the international stage. It is said that Lee, who spent his childhood in Cheongdo, witnessed this traditional ritual every Jeongwol Daeboreum, and was deeply influenced by the characteristics of the charcoal that gets created when the fire goes out the next day.

The tradition was that villagers each take pieces of charcoal as a good luck charm. Through art, he’s expanded the exploration of charcoal through different medium and methods, including sculpture, painting and mixed media.

Artist Lee Bae stands in front of the daljip, or moon house, on Saturday, in Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang. [SANGTAE KIM, COURTESY OF THE ARTIST AND JOHYUN GALLERY]

“Charcoal represents the essence of Lee Bae’s artistic practice and his deep connection to his roots,” Johyun Gallery said in a press statement on Thursday.

Lee’s solo exhibit, curated by Valentina Buzzi, will take place at the Wilmotte Foundation in Venice during the biennale.

Last year, Lee’s 21-foot site-specific sculpture of stacked charcoals was installed at the Channel Gardens. It marked the first time a Korean artist exhibited a work in the space. The work was part of a contemporary Korean art exhibition, which ran from June 8 to Aug. 27. The exhibition was part of the Rockefeller Center’s celebration of Korean culture.

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]