📌 The Ethereal Gardens of Azero (Ahyoung Lee): Visualizing the Realms of Life and Death

ArtSpoon is proud to feature the enchanting work of Ahyoung Lee, known artistically as Azero, whose unique visual language bridges the tangible and the ethereal, the temporal and the eternal. Through her Instagram @a0mylib, Lee shares her journey, drawing deeply from personal experiences and broader cultural mythologies to create landscapes that exist between life and death, reality and imagination.

I have twenty-six seasons in my hand 11 墨 stick ink on mulberry paper (2024) 130.3 X 162.2 cm

A Visit to the Tomb Park

The catalyst for her profound exploration came during the pandemic following the death of three acquaintances. Lee’s subsequent visits to a ‘tomb park’ led to a powerful synthesis of past memories with the deceased, the contemplation of mortality. These Emotional change infused her artwork, integrating these layers of time and memory, and casting the garden not just as a physical space but as a narrative device that maps the human journey.

I have twenty-six seasons in my hand 17 墨 stick ink on mulberry paper (2024) 97 X 193.9 cm

Gardens as Cinematic Maps

For Lee, the garden concept transcends its natural connotations, becoming a stage akin to a film that summarizes life’s voyage. In her work, gardens are depicted not merely as settings but as maps that invite viewers to navigate the complex terrains of life and death. This approach allows for a rich tapestry of interpretation, making each piece a gateway to personal and collective subconscious realms.

I have twenty-six seasons in my hand 16 墨 stick ink on mulberry paper (2024) 97 X 193.9 cm

Artistic Methodology

Lee’s process involves eschewing traditional sketches, opting instead for direct interaction with her medium. This method is like drawing a map of the subconscious, where disparate elements converge, break apart, and coalesce again, symbolizing the past, present, and future. For her, the garden is a concept akin to a film, summarizing the journey of life like a map. She depicted the garden with shapes reminiscent of a map that allows for imaginative exploration of the realms of life and death.

I have twenty-six seasons in my hand 15 墨 stick ink on mulberry paper (2024) 116.8 X 80.3cm

Conclusion

Ahyoung Lee continues to explore and expand the boundaries of visual art by delving into themes of life and death, garden, the subconscious, map and imagination. Her works are not just to be seen but experienced, inviting a journey through the landscapes of the mind and soul.