Black can feel simple until you stand in front of a surface that seems to shimmer and breathe. Join Nordic Art Partners to discover the signature achievements of Lee Bae, the South Korean contemporary artist who has turned the elemental material of charcoal into minimal abstract works of remarkable nuance, depth, texture, and light. Listen as we recount Lee Bae’s story; from humble beginnings in rural Cheongdo, via the legacy of Dansaekhwa to Paris, where a humble supermarket pack of charcoal became the start of an original and unique visual language that was to become renowned worldwide.We discuss his various his bodies of work: meditative brushstroke paintings on hanji paper, sculptural charcoal forms, and the extraordinary 'Issu de Feu' works made by aligning and polishing countless charcoal shards into a shimmering relief. Much of Lee Bae's work addresses his Korean cultural heritage; we discuss the manifold practical applications of this material in Korean society, by which we discover the depth of meaning in this most particular material choice.We discuss the various art market developments responsible for his current position, and the journey that has brought him to this increasingly rarefied level, after 30 years practicing his singular approach to abstraction. Learn which galleries represent him (including Perrotin and Esther Schipper), what this means, what primary market prices look like across editions and major unique works, and what recent auction results say about demand, waiting lists, and growth. If you’re interested in art collecting and putting money into meaningful art acquisitions, learn how following an artist such as Lee Bae as he moves from a strong home market into broader global demand can also be a focused case study substantiated by real numbers and grounded advice. Subscribe, share the episode with a fellow collector, and leave a review telling us which Lee Bae work you would chase first.Get in Touch