rusted metal signifies the passing of time in jung-hoon lee’s table collection

in june 2019, jung-hoon lee shared his ‘gwol’ furniture series that was informed by traditional korean architecture. now, the designer has continued the collection with ‘gwol &’ — a pair of tables designed around the concept of time. 

gwol &

images courtesy of jung-hoon lee

the two main themes throughout jung-hoon lee‘s work are the references to vernacular korean architecture and the co-existence of past and present. similar to gwol, this latest project takes cues from the cylindrical structural elements found in traditional hanok houses in korea. for gwol &, the designer has abstracted these shapes and applied metallic materials to create sleek, contemporary pieces. 

gwol & / table I

unlike gwol, this time around jung-hoon lee has used rusted metal to express not only the color of timber in old hanok houses, but also to signify the passing of time. in this way, the designer tries to convey the relativity of time, and how the present will soon become the past, just like the metal that loses its luster and begins to rust. 

table I / stainless steel, iron corrosion / 600x400x520 mm

using these attributes, jung-hoon lee produces works in which the past and future coexist. ‘the past supports the future, and the future supports the past and coexists with each other. in the end, this is all a circular element, which will be the reason why we love both the enterprising beauty of the future and the familiar beauty of the past,’  says the designer.

table I / stainless steel, iron corrosion / 600x400x520 mm

gwol & / table II

table II / stainless steel, iron corrosion / 800x330x520 mm

table II / stainless steel, iron corrosion / 800x330x520 mm

project info:

project name: gwol &
design: jung-hoon lee

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.