chaeyoung lee meticulously carves and ebonizes wood for 'time of action' furniture series

this carefully crafted furniture series by chaeyoung lee is all about time. using ebonizing and wood carving techniques, the seoul-based designer brushes and chisels each piece by hand to create a beautifully tactile collection called ‘the action of time’.

images courtesy of chaeyoung lee

the series is composed of four pieces: three chairs and one bench. the designs play with contrasting forms as right angles and straight edges are offset by satisfyingly smooth curves.

time of ACT no.20-2, no.20-3, no.20-4

as the name of the series suggests, chaeyoung lee intends that each piece expresses the moments of time and repetitive body movements that made them. ‘the layer of time completes a direct tactile experience beyond thinking. I hope we can stay more faithful to our life by paying attention to our time and focusing on the ‘here and now’,’  explains the designer.

time of ACT no.20-1, ebonized and carved beech, 300 x 1200 x 375mm, 2020

after shaping the designs from solid beech wood, lee then meticulously carves the chairs and benches to create a new texture. she then ebonizes the timber to slowly reveal dark black while maintaining the natural grain of the wood. to see the process, you can check out the designer’s dedicated instagram page here, where she uploads photos and videos of the carving and ebonizing processes.

time of ACT no.20-1, ebonized and carved beech, 300 x 1200 x 375mm, 2020

time of ACT no.20-1, ebonized and carved beech, 300 x 1200 x 375mm, 2020

time of ACT no.20-2, ebonized and carved beech, 320 x 345 x 410mm, 2020

time of ACT no.20-2, ebonized and carved beech, 320 x 345 x 410mm, 2020

time of ACT no.20-2, ebonized and carved beech, 320 x 345 x 410mm, 2020

time of ACT no.20-3, ebonized and carved beech, 450 x 450 x 650mm, 2020

time of ACT no.20-3, ebonized and carved beech, 450 x 450 x 650mm, 2020

time of ACT no.20-3, ebonized and carved beech, 450 x 450 x 650mm, 2020

time of ACT no.20-4, ebonized and carved beech, 420 x 420 x 390mm, 2020

time of ACT no.20-4, ebonized and carved beech, 420 x 420 x 390mm, 2020

project info:

project name: time of action

design: chaeyoung lee