Stools from “Chronicle of Matter” Series
Manufactured by So Myeong Lee
South Korea, 2025
Steam-bent oak, ocher, rope, mixed media
Measurements
Overall dimensions
60 × 110 × 55h cm
23,6 × 43,3 × 21,7h in
Comprising Chronicle of Matter 001 and Chronicle of Matter 002
Edition
Unique piece
About
Stools from “Chronicle of Matter” Series reflects So Myeong Lee’s ongoing investigation into material transformation, craftsmanship, and the relationships that emerge through processes of accumulation and assembly. Composed of Chronicle of Matter 001 and Chronicle of Matter 002, the work is constructed through a slow process of bending, weaving, and binding slender pieces of oak, allowing individual elements to accumulate into larger, structurally interdependent forms.
Using steam-bending techniques, Lee transforms the inherent rigidity of oak into curved and flexible elements. After bending, the individual pieces are dried, sanded, colored, and reassembled, while rope and ocher-based compounds reinforce and articulate their points of connection. Rather than concealing these processes, Lee allows binding, overlapping, tension, and accumulation to remain visible as integral aspects of the finished work.
The construction draws inspiration from the way birds gather small branches and fragments to build a nest. For Lee, this process becomes a metaphor for solidarity and interdependence: elements that appear fragile or insignificant individually acquire strength through accumulation and mutual support. The resulting structures embody what the designer describes as a process of slow accumulation, in which separate fragments gradually form a resilient and cohesive whole.
Through this combination of material experimentation and conceptual investigation, Stools from “Chronicle of Matter” Series moves between furniture, craft, and sculpture. The work considers matter not as something static, but as something continually transformed through contact, repetition, and relationships with other elements. The Chronicle of Matter series was selected as a finalist for the 2026 LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize.
Biography
So Myeong Lee is a South Korean designer whose practice moves between furniture, craft, and sculptural object-making. A graduate of Woodworking and Furniture Design at Hongik University, she develops her work through an experimental engagement with materials and construction processes, with particular attention to steam-bent wood and the ways in which traditional woodworking can generate contemporary sculptural forms.
Working across wood, rope, ocher, textiles, and manufactured materials, Lee allows the physical characteristics of each material to actively inform the construction of her objects. Rather than seeking to erase differences between individual components, she emphasizes their points of contact and contrast, allowing structure, assembly, tension, and material transitions to become visible aspects of the finished work.
Her practice reflects a broader interest in accumulation, transformation, and interdependence. Through processes of bending, weaving, binding, and joining, individual elements acquire strength through their relationships with one another, positioning her work between functional furniture and autonomous sculptural form.
In 2026, Lee was selected as one of 30 finalists for the Loewe Foundatioin Craft Prize with Chronicle of Matter, comprising Chronicle of Matter 001 and Chronicle of Matter 002. The works further develop her investigation into material transformation and the strength that can emerge through the accumulation and mutual support of individually fragile elements.
