Younghyun Lee’s The Youth: Resin Shells Preserve Scars on Old Chairs

South Korean designer Younghyun Lee is reimagining furniture restoration with The Youth, a series that encases worn wooden chairs in translucent resin shells. Rather than hiding imperfections like darkened wood, uneven color, and exposed fasteners, the resin highlights them, turning each scar into a focal point. The chairs retain their original form and history while gaining a durable, contemporary layer that protects and celebrates their age. This approach challenges the notion that restoration means erasing the past, instead suggesting that visible wear can be a design asset. By preserving rather than replacing, Lee’s work offers a sustainable alternative to fast furniture and invites viewers to see beauty in the marks of time. The Youth ultimately reframes aging not as decline, but as a story worth keeping.