Glass Eye

Author Lee Cheong 
Publisher Fraction

““One day, while walking near my home, I came across a pigeon crushed on the road […] The sight reminded me of the time a pigeon was obliterated in mid-air by a fastball thrown by Major League Baseball pitcher Randy Johnson, its body scattering like leaves caught in the wind. Another image flashed through my mind – the opening ceremony of the Seoul Olympics, where white doves, released as symbols of peace, failed to escape the burning Olympic torch and perished in the flames.” ― from Lee Cheong’s afterword

Similar to the opening paragraph of Lee Cheong’s afterword for "Glass Eye," the photographs taken in Seoul evoke a variety of vivid images and associations. Lee mostly uses black and white, but occasionally incorporates color. He lets pigeons (and a few other wild urban animals) guide readers through a diverse mix of subjects and ideas. Despite dealing with themes such as urban loneliness, oppressive modern society, and identity, the photographs maintain a remarkably warm, optimistic atmosphere, thanks to the reserved, observing nature of Lee's gaze.

“In the end, the city is nothing more than a vast hunting ground, where all living creatures struggle to survive – often without even knowing what they are searching for. ― from Lee Cheong’s afterword

Softcover
9.75 x 7.25 inches
388 pages
2025