In Philosopher’s Stone, Lee Woongcheol turns his attention to humanity’s pursuit of transformation and meaning through matter. Unlike the more dystopian vision in Perspective, this work explores the potential for human wisdom and creation. The video juxtaposes actual imagery of the Pantheon with digital reconstructions, merging myth, science, and technology. Taking the diamond ― a substance traditionally formed through eons of geological pressure ― as a metaphor, the artist examines how contemporary science now replicates this process in artificial labs. The work questions the modern-day equivalent of alchemy: how technology, once inspired by myth, has now begun to materialize these ancient dreams.

Using the raw stone as a central symbol, Philosopher’s Stone expands into a broader inquiry into materials as both natural resources and technological tools. The work explores the blurry boundary between mythical archetypes and observable phenomena, raising questions about humanity’s enduring longing for transcendence across time and cultures.