Dust and Clay documentary film directed by Mfer7653 Lee.

Dust and Clay is a documentary film about the sculptor Taegeum Lee Dong Hoon(1972 - 2023), created by his nephew. The sculptor passed away at a young age in 2023.

Born the son of a renowned painter, the sculptor lived much of his life in the shadow of his father’s fame. When the aging painter lost his eyesight and became bedridden, the sculptor halted his own artistic work to care for his parents for several years. It was only after his father’s passing that he began preparing to return to sculpture. This film begins at that critical turning point.

The documentary traces the sculptor’s final years, following his journey toward his last and most ambitious project — a collection of 100 clay busts titled “Diary in Clay: One Hundred Teachers.” Through this body of work, the sculptor sought to write his own diary in earth, portraying the silent mentors who had shaped him.

But despite his efforts, the sculptor could not overcome the inertia of poverty and years of silence. He passed away before he could fully complete his vision. This film does not attempt to glorify or mythologize the artist. Rather, it asks: How can cinema mourn, remember, and honor a creator who might otherwise be forgotten?

Dust and Clay is not just a portrait of a man, but a quiet meditation on memory, labor, and the fragile legacy of those who shape the world with their hands — and vanish into its dust.