21 Jul 2009

Sea Hyun Lee at Harewood House Trust

Union Gallery is delighted to announce the exhibition Between Red: Paintings by Sea Hyun Lee, in the spectacular setting of Harewood.

These epic paintings, rendered in great washes of red, seem simple at first glance, resembling depictions of traditional Korean landscapes; shards of white canvas contrasting with painstakingly detailed fragments of a land dotted with isolated dwellings. In fact, these are views of the mountainous terrain of the de-militarised zone between North and South Korea, giving them a political as well as a personal meaning for the artist. He describes being in this area at night while on military service: 'I would wear night vision goggles, which coated everything in red. The forests and trees felt so fantastic and beautiful. It was unrealistic scenery filled with horror and fear, and with no possibility of entering.' Town and Country; Turner Harewood and Leeds

Harewood will also celebrate the publication of a new book 'Turner and Leeds' by Professor of Fine Art, David Hill, with the exhibition in the Watercolour Rooms: 'Town and Country; Turner Harewood and Leeds' The show is drawn from Harewood collection and will include important loans of other works. The core of the exhibition will focus on Turner's use of figures in the landscape, which at first glimpse might appear as whimsical details, but with greater insight reveal a less than subtle social statement and pointer to rural trades which were being swept away by the growing tide of industrialisation in towns like Leeds.

The House with its outstanding art collections, splendid State Rooms and fascinating 'Below Stairs' exhibition, is set in spectacular landscaped grounds, which include formal gardens and gentle woodland walks, a Bhutanese Stupa, waterfall and Himalayan Garden. Harewood House was built in the mid-18th century with money made from the West Indian sugar trade, you can delve into this history with the 'Harewood 1807' exhibit.

For more information about Sea Hyun Lee's work please contact: +44 (0)20 7739 9119 or: info@union-gallery.com