‘Fell in love’ with Oamaru stone

The tranquility of a paddock at Weston is a far cry
from The bustle of Seoul for artist Jin Lee.
Ms Lee(34) arrived in North Otago last month to
visit Parkside Quarries and tackle sculpting a large
block of Oamaru stone, weighing between 2.5
and 3 tonne.
She has spent about 80 hours armed with a chisel
and Angle grinder, working on her sculpture in a
paddock Surrounded by sheep, alongside Bob and
Linda Wilson’s Parkside Garden.
There was still “a long way to go”, she Said,
laughing, this week.
Ms Lee graduated from the Hong-Ik Fine Art
University In Seoul, in 1997 with a bachelor of
fine art, specializing In ceramic sculpture.
She haw worked in New Zealand and France as a
potter And, while sculpture was her passion,
she was also a keen Oil painter.
It was while she was living in Christchurch seven
years ago That she discovered Oamaru stone and
“kind of fell in Love with it”.
“I thought, ‘I’m going to do it one day’.
It took a long Journey,” she said.
Ms Lee moved back to Seoul two months ago and
Planned to open a studio in the city.
While there was limestone in South Korea,
it was a Different type to Oamaru stone.
She described the Weston quarry as “amazing”.
She planned to stay in New Zealand for another
two or Three months while she finished her
sculpture.
She also intended buying blocks of Oamaru stone
to Have sent back to Seoul.
She was “absolutely amazed” at the hospitality
and Friendliness of Mr and Mrs Wilson,
who were hostingher,
And planned to keep in touch with them.