Painter Ian Lee "I draw with my hand to close the gap between me and the canvas"
Published December 31, 2022 12:44 AM
Jason Yim
Sayart.net
Jason Yim, yimjongho1969@gmail.com
Maria Kim, sayart2022@gmail.com
“A man fiercely scans the art paper lying on the floor as if tied to a rope. His fingertips escaping from the painting swipe dangerously across the slippery art paper like an ice. The art paper resists, but the Man, who has caught the moment, suffocates it with one shot.”
Ian Lee, unlike other artists, draws on art paper. His brushes are his fingers, the back of his arms, and some nails. After running on the art paper tens of thousands of times, his fingerprints were completely worn out.
"I use my body to paint because I don't like the brush that separates the artist from the paper. I wanted to avoid traditional silhouettes even when using ink. So I paint on art paper. I can create my own shading on slippery art paper.“
There is no hesitation in his paintings. The line is thick It would be more accurate to say that the line is power. His paintings, drawn in an instant, have the improvising and cheerfulness of Jazz.
▲ Ian Lee, 2015 Ink on paper, 236.5cm x 109.1cm, Courtesy of Ian Lee
He said. “I want to capture my overflowing energy on the canvas in an instant. To do so, I try not to miss a single moment like the momentum (vigor) of the game of Go (Baduk).”
He paints in an instant, but spends most of his time in the studio, excluding mealtimes. His studio, which he set up in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi-do four years ago, already has about 1,000 pieces of art in his collection. He said that he is not envious of Picasso.
He shows his unpublished works one by one and continues his words. "I often go to the next stage without being able to present my works. This situation is regrettable, but all works become the seeds for the next stage, so there is nothing wrong with that. " He said.
He was born into a family of artists. His father, LEE CHONGHAK, who graduated from Seoul National University, was an outstanding Western painter and poet. He recalled that "My father was uncompromising and unsociable" and described himself as being like his father, saying "I am an unkind artist". However, unlike his father, he has been trying to communicate with his fans by posting descriptions of his works on his Facebook page.
▲ Ian Lee, 2022, Acrylic on canvas, 116.8cm x 92.0cm, Courtesy of Ian Lee
"Generally, critics don't like artists to explain something. They think that a work shouldn't be limited by language. But I think a short piece of writing can inspire or give a clue to the audience". He said.
He is an abstract painter "In abstraction, it is important to visualize the inspiration behind it. In other words, the key abstraction is to find harmony between what is visible and what is hidden.“
He mainly uses black ink. The harmony of black and white in his paintings is completely different from ink-and-wash painting. However, unlike his previous works, he often uses primary colors these days. “Some people categorize my works as monochrome, but I have never hesitated to use colors,” he said.
He started painting in earnest after 2015. He might be a late painter. "When I was old enough to know the world, I began to paint again," he says. Growing up in an artist's family, he naturally dreamed of becoming an artist, but his stubborn father did not allow him to do so.
▲ Ian Lee's studio, Courtesy of Ian Lee
After many years, he finally had a problem. He was depressed At that time when he was mentally devastated and wandering, his friend reminded him of his forgotten dream, saying, "You have to draw a picture." However, he had doubts about whether he would be able to paint again as sharp as he did in his youth. After all, he mustered up the courage to start painting again.
His friend gave him the name of the artist 'Ian Lee' as a gift. After that, his friend introduced his portfolio to several galleries in New York. Eventually, he was able to submit his paintings to famous galleries and art fairs at home and abroad, such as Scoop in New York and Miami. In particular, at the 2019 exhibition titled 'Painting of the Body, Body of Painting', I was able to hold an exhibition together with Lee Kun-Yong, who is considered a 1st-generation performance artist in South Korea.
His work closely resembles his father's, though The theme, form, and color are completely different, but Their Artistic pulse is the same. Since he has seen his father's work since childhood. Actually, it is a natural result.
In fact, it is not easy for artists to open their studios to outsiders. However, He dared to reveal his secret world.
▲ Ian Lee's Studio, Photo by Maria Kim
The art paper he often uses is a paper commonly used in printing houses. It is often used to make calendars. Even today, he is pouring himself out on such art paper with all his might. His journey will end when he has nothing more to pour out.
What is the message he drew on art paper for a long time? Perhaps it is very close, like a calendar.
Sayart.net
Jason Yim, yimjongho1969@gmail.com
Maria Kim, sayart2022@gmail.com
“A man fiercely scans the art paper lying on the floor as if tied to a rope. His fingertips escaping from the painting swipe dangerously across the slippery art paper like an ice. The art paper resists, but the Man, who has caught the moment, suffocates it with one shot.”
Ian Lee, unlike other artists, draws on art paper. His brushes are his fingers, the back of his arms, and some nails. After running on the art paper tens of thousands of times, his fingerprints were completely worn out.
"I use my body to paint because I don't like the brush that separates the artist from the paper. I wanted to avoid traditional silhouettes even when using ink. So I paint on art paper. I can create my own shading on slippery art paper.“
There is no hesitation in his paintings. The line is thick It would be more accurate to say that the line is power. His paintings, drawn in an instant, have the improvising and cheerfulness of Jazz.
▲ Ian Lee, 2015 Ink on paper, 236.5cm x 109.1cm, Courtesy of Ian Lee
He said. “I want to capture my overflowing energy on the canvas in an instant. To do so, I try not to miss a single moment like the momentum (vigor) of the game of Go (Baduk).”
He paints in an instant, but spends most of his time in the studio, excluding mealtimes. His studio, which he set up in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi-do four years ago, already has about 1,000 pieces of art in his collection. He said that he is not envious of Picasso.
He shows his unpublished works one by one and continues his words. "I often go to the next stage without being able to present my works. This situation is regrettable, but all works become the seeds for the next stage, so there is nothing wrong with that. " He said.
He was born into a family of artists. His father, LEE CHONGHAK, who graduated from Seoul National University, was an outstanding Western painter and poet. He recalled that "My father was uncompromising and unsociable" and described himself as being like his father, saying "I am an unkind artist". However, unlike his father, he has been trying to communicate with his fans by posting descriptions of his works on his Facebook page.
▲ Ian Lee, 2022, Acrylic on canvas, 116.8cm x 92.0cm, Courtesy of Ian Lee
"Generally, critics don't like artists to explain something. They think that a work shouldn't be limited by language. But I think a short piece of writing can inspire or give a clue to the audience". He said.
He is an abstract painter "In abstraction, it is important to visualize the inspiration behind it. In other words, the key abstraction is to find harmony between what is visible and what is hidden.“
He mainly uses black ink. The harmony of black and white in his paintings is completely different from ink-and-wash painting. However, unlike his previous works, he often uses primary colors these days. “Some people categorize my works as monochrome, but I have never hesitated to use colors,” he said.
He started painting in earnest after 2015. He might be a late painter. "When I was old enough to know the world, I began to paint again," he says. Growing up in an artist's family, he naturally dreamed of becoming an artist, but his stubborn father did not allow him to do so.
▲ Ian Lee's studio, Courtesy of Ian Lee
After many years, he finally had a problem. He was depressed At that time when he was mentally devastated and wandering, his friend reminded him of his forgotten dream, saying, "You have to draw a picture." However, he had doubts about whether he would be able to paint again as sharp as he did in his youth. After all, he mustered up the courage to start painting again.
His friend gave him the name of the artist 'Ian Lee' as a gift. After that, his friend introduced his portfolio to several galleries in New York. Eventually, he was able to submit his paintings to famous galleries and art fairs at home and abroad, such as Scoop in New York and Miami. In particular, at the 2019 exhibition titled 'Painting of the Body, Body of Painting', I was able to hold an exhibition together with Lee Kun-Yong, who is considered a 1st-generation performance artist in South Korea.
His work closely resembles his father's, though The theme, form, and color are completely different, but Their Artistic pulse is the same. Since he has seen his father's work since childhood. Actually, it is a natural result.
In fact, it is not easy for artists to open their studios to outsiders. However, He dared to reveal his secret world.
▲ Ian Lee's Studio, Photo by Maria Kim
The art paper he often uses is a paper commonly used in printing houses. It is often used to make calendars. Even today, he is pouring himself out on such art paper with all his might. His journey will end when he has nothing more to pour out.
What is the message he drew on art paper for a long time? Perhaps it is very close, like a calendar.
