LEE CHAE

Whitestone Gallery Taipei is honoured to present Imbued, Between Flower and Wind: Lee Chae Solo Exhibition. South Korean artist Lee Chae is known for translating the human inner world through the dynamic relationships of natural elements. The exhibition features the artist’s latest works, focusing on the process of infusion in plants as they face the wind. Through these works, he reveals the interplay and permeation of “existence” between the wind and the flower—a metaphor for the connection between the external stimulus and the inner self. Although human figures are absent from his canvases, every stroke is imbued with a profound and delicate emotional warmth. Lee Chae’s works are highly favoured by enthusiasts of fashion and design. The exhibition will be held from April 11 to May 16, 2026.

Nature is a central motif in Lee Chae’s work. However, his intention is not to portray natural landscapes, but to interpret the growing landscape of the inner soul in a metaphorical and abstract way. His iconic series “The Blue Flower”, utilises the blooming and withering of flora to express the fluid vitality and infinity of life, mirroring how emotions are nurtured and transformed in one’s heart. The “Afterimage” series then captures the memories left behind as the imagery of the “The Blue Flower” dissolves within the mind. In this series, the flower grows into trees and forests. Lee Chae’s recent works have focused on the relationship between “wind” and “flower”, such as the “Baramkkot” series, naming after the Korean vocabulary “바람꽃”,which literally means “wind flower”, symbolises the fleeting energy that lingers in the moment just before the wind begins to rise. In these works, Baramkkot is seen as a flower of connection, born from the energy of the wind. In this current exhibition Imbued, Between Flower and Wind, however, Lee Chae delves deeper into the changes that unfold after the wind passes by. He focuses on the infusion, resonance and imbuement that lead to a profound transformation. For Lee Chae, “flowers bloom and trees grow” is equivalent to the stirring of emotion from within the depths of the soul. The wind blowing over these flowers and trees signifies the moment when an external stimulus permeates the quiet surface of one’s inner self. Even after the wind has passed, its presence does not easily fade. It lingers between leaves and stems, slowly seeping in and transforming life from its very essence.

This exhibition presents several new series, including “The Blue Flower/ Wind,” the 2026 latest series “Afterimage of Wind” and “Wind-Infused,” as well as the 2024 “Afterimage” series. Lee Chae regards “wind” as the external stimulus and “flower” as the inner mind; the core of this exhibition lies in the states produced through their encounter: infusion, lingering aftereffects, and imbuement. The artist paints shapes and lines, then with his brush, he carefully lifts away portions of the pigment. During the process of layering translucent colors to the canvas then wiping away, he poetically transforms the wind’s trajectory and resonance into perceptible afterimages. Rather than being fixed in a single state, this process serves as a metaphor for emotions that overlap and transform, visualizing the layers and lingering aftereffects left as feelings build up over time. Alongside Lee Chae’s signature blue, translucent shades of green emerge within several of the new works. Standing before the canvases, viewers may find themselves becoming imbued, between the flower and the wind.”

Born in South Korea in 1989, Lee Chae graduated from Gachon University in 2015, majoring in Oriental Painting, and received his Master’s degree from Hongik University in 2024. His oil paintings possess a quiet, meditative depth. His works are held in collections including the Government Art Bank of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), Korea; Lotte Hotel World, Seoul; Lotte Department Store, Busan; and the LF MAESTRO brand collection.