THE LETTER WRITING PROJECT
FINDING WORDS FOR WHAT’S LEFT BEHIND
words by Elizabeth Campbell, artwork by Lee Mingwei
Photo by Yoshitsugu Fuminari, Courtesy of Mori Art Museum
of our busy lives, grief often leaves us searching for the words we didn’t say. The Letter Writing Project offered a tender invitation: step into its softly glowing booths, pick up a pen, and let the words come. Originally created by artist Lee Mingwei in 1998, this on-going installation transforms bustling spaces into sanctuaries of reflection, giving participants a moment to write letters they’ve carried silently in their hearts. Each booth, crafted from wood and translucent glass, glows with a warmth that feels almost alive. Inside, visitors stand, sit, or kneel—postures inspired by meditation in Ch’an Buddhism. These simple In the blur
gestures guided the writer to reflect on themes of gratitude, insight, or forgiveness. And then, in the quiet, they began to write. These letters were often addressed to loved ones who had passed, though some were for the living, or even for the writers themselves. They were filled with longing, apology, or gratitude—words that couldn’t be spoken in life but still needed to be heard. Participants left their letters in the booth for others to read, sealed them in envelopes for privacy, or had them mailed. Many remain unsent, kept by the artist, their existence a testament to the healing power of expression.
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