Bail

Khan Lee's sculptural work Bail explores invisible systems of movement and time. Drawing inspiration from Eadweard Muybridge’s photographic studies of motion and Lee’s own collection of Korean and Japanese action films, the work examines how brief moments of movement, captured in still frames, can be expanded into a dynamic, three-dimensional form. Lee created the sculpture by isolating incremental movements as silhouettes, stacking them to form a continuous, undulating volume of time. This process stretches brief moments—often imperceptible to the eye—into a sculptural mass that reflects the duration of the movement.

After experimenting with various media, Lee chose laser-cut colored acrylic as his primary material. This material allows light to pass through the sculpture, enhancing its dimensionality and offering a complex interplay of form and light. The title 'Bail' references both the colloquial term used in skateboarding and the physical manifestation of the work itself. In skateboarding, "bailing" refers to falling off the board either unintentionally, due to loss of control, or in a controlled manner, where the fall does not result in injury. Lee captured his friend Kevin Doherty attempting an unsuccessful kickflip, using this moment to explore the subtle choreography of urban life and the invisible forces that shape everyday movements.