Time of Tree

Synopsis

A musical meditation on nature's organic, interdependent rhythms

In East Asian thought, the word "nature" means "that which is of itself”. The more we contemplate nature and lead our lives under its direction, the more we recognise a profound system – forms that transform and move according to the flow of time, becoming what they must, arriving where they must.

In this grand natural cycle, we often think of spring as beginning and winter as ending. But is the seed merely a process for the flower, or is the flower itself a process for the seed that falls to the ground? True nature holds more than one-dimensional beauty in its depths. Within this vast system, countless coincidences and inevitabilities intersect, life and death intertwine, and there we find ourselves.

Gray by Silver collaborated with gardener and installation artist Daegil Lee to explore the structural characteristics of ecology and nature, refusing to approach this universal theme abstractly or superficially. Through this extended research, Time of Tree gradually expanded to embrace fundamental questions about human life, relationships, and systems – questions that transcend cultural and ethnic boundaries.

Musically, Time of Tree is rooted in its Korean identity. Through the narrative arrangement of its compositions, the performance traverses traditional, classical, jazz, and progressive genres, painting nature's grand cyclical workings through sound. This balance, along with the organic breathing between performers, present a clear new direction for Korean music.

In this rapidly changing era, we often lose sight of what matters. Time of Tree invites audiences to see nature not as something distant to protect, but as something precious and intimate – like seeing glaciers as children and trees as beloved companions. Through genuine emotional connection rather than obligation, we may take one step closer to understanding the natural system we all belong to.

About the Artist

Gray by Silver

Gray by Silver is a South Korean quartet led by pianist–composer HanBin Lee, featuring vocalist HanYul Lee, daegeum (Korean bamboo flute) player Taehyeon Kim, and drummer Yedarm Pak. Formed in 2016, the group creates original music in the grey zone where contemporary composition, jazz language, and traditional Korean timbres meet – a space where diverse musical boundaries converge, much like how all shadows become grey no matter how brilliant the colours of their original form.

The ensemble has established a distinctive voice in Korean art music, building long-form performance works that balance written structure with improvisation, while maintaining a clear Korean musical identity at the core of their sound. Their projects, such as Time of Tree, explore the deep connections between nature, human relationships, and the systems that surround us, offering audiences an invitation to discover joy in the intricate cycles of life.

Gray by Silver's international presence has grown steadily through major festival appearances worldwide. Their performance history includes Copenhagen Jazz Festival and Aarhus Jazz Festival in Denmark, showcases at Guggenheim House in Japan, and an appearance at the 2023 Lincoln Center Presents programme in New York. With their third album, Time of Tree (2025), they have performed at the GONG Multifunctional Hall for the Colours of Ostrava in the Czech Republic and at the Royal Albert Hall for the EFG London Jazz Festival.

Through their work, Gray by Silver presents a new stream of Korean artistic music to global audiences, demonstrating how traditional Korean musical elements can speak to universal human experiences across cultures and borders.

Remarks

1. Free seating.
2. You are recommended to arrive 15 minutes before the event starts. Latecomers will be admitted at appropriate times.
3. Student Pass holders may queue on-site for available seats.
4. Programmes are subject to change without prior notice. HKPAX reserves the right to final decision regarding programme arrangements.