Opera Gallery Seoul presents an exhibition by Korean and French artists currently in the spotlight for their portrayal of beautiful tree images.

The gallery’s fourth exhibition of the year showcases pine tree sculptures by Lee Gil-rae and imaginative, colorful paintings by Jean Francois Larrieu under the title “Dream Blossom” from Thursday to Dec. 31.

“It will invite viewers to the world of fantasy and imagination the two artists create with trees as the symbol of the origin of life,” said a gallery curator.

Larrieu, a 52-year-old self-taught artist based in Paris, has painted blossoming trees in a variety of colors highlighting the “pleasant and joyful world full of dreams.”

He often invites viewers on a journey to magical cities from his imagination in paintings featuring unique high-rise buildings with exotic trees.

Larrieu’s works are featured in national museums and company collections around the world including France, China, Japan, Taiwan, Spain and Lebanon.

Lee Gil-rae, 53, has been making life-size pine tree sculptures with pipes and steel for more than 10 years. Inspired by the life-giving nature of trees, Lee recreates pine trees by welding thick slices of copper that turn into leaves and branches, with each part representing their “universal values and roles,” according to the artist’s note.

Dubbed as “the artist painting in the sky with a steel pen,” Lee has won multiple art awards in Korea, including the Young Artist Award in 1986 and Jungang Biennale Award in 1996.

The exhibition runs until Dec. 31 at Opera Gallery Seoul on Dosan Boulevard, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. For more information, call (02) 3446-0070.

By Lee Woo-young (wylee@heraldcorp.com)