Artist of the Month

Jisoo Lee

Jisoo Lee was born in Seoul, Korea. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Arts degree from Ewha Woman’s University in Seoul, Korea, she had a teaching job for college students and built careers as an artist. One day, she decided to leave for New York to seek new stimulation and motivation for her arts and finally moved to New York in 2004, and she gained another M.F.A degree from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn New York. She believed attending school could be the best way to have diverse experiences with many other artists, sharing time, cultures and ideas. Lee has still thought her decision was right. New York is a great place for artists.

TAL: How and when did you start creating art?

JL : Well, I’d like to say I’ve been making art my whole life. During my childhood, I spent most of my time drawing something like dolls in fairy tales, animals, and my family. In a way, I don’t know whether it could be a reason or not to me, there was nothing that drew my interest except for crayons and paper. I feel like it’s become a habit. Drawing and painting something has continued through all my school life, then I naturally majored in painting at college, so it is hard for me to say exactly when I started. I like to insist I’ve been always an artist.

TAL: What media and genres do you work in?

JL : In Korea, we have a traditional genre called “oriental painting” or “Koran painting.” My major was Korean painting in Seoul, and I have worked for many years with sumi ink, stone pigment and charcoal on handmade Korean paper named “Han-Ji” or “Jang-Ji”, however, now I deal with oil paints on canvases. In terms of using a brush, there doesn’t seem to be a big difference between the two, water-base and oil-base, but changing material itself,,, it can be a big issue for artist, because occasionally, I used to feel restrained by the technical demands of the materials. Now? I am happy with it.

TAL: Who or what are your influences?

JL : Rothko’s arrangement of forms, which consist of color alone as they establish a layered depth and enrich the composition, intrigued me. His observation that silence is highly accurate has become the motto of my work. Dan Flavin also has affected my work. His work with fluorescent tube fascinates me. My painting is about light and color. Actually, I have many artists who influence on me,,, Sol LeWitt, James Turrell, Fred Sandback, and many Korean Artists. Sometimes, I am influenced by not only big artists but also immature or emerging young artists.

TAL: What was your inspiration for ""?

JL : Light fascinates me. I find many kinds of light attractive, such as city light, sunshine, and light of fire: they draw me into an illusory world. The brilliant light of neon signs in New York grabs my eyes, they present an energized landscape of sweeping luminosities and swirling colors: however, at the same time they reveal feelings, loneliness. In addition, illusions from sunshine and light of candle make me feel like things are under meditation. I want to create optical illusion that impact eyes and let viewers into it.

TAL: Describe your creative process.

JL : My images usually begin with a color idea. Colors have diverse meanings and moods, and people are easily impressed by colors, however, in my paintings, I impose limits. I am trying to say the most with the least. The working process is to reduce and remove elements until elegance of balances remain in it. If viewers take a step back and look at my painting, there are illusions around boundary lines. The lines with gradation help each plane to gain luminosity. Sometimes, being obsessive with a painting, I give changes in the final stage, making a totally different form regardless of my original intention; however, I can find another way to express my emotion through my procedure, such as discovering the subtle relationship between on color and another.

TAL: What are you working on currently?

JL : Each one of these pieces will be coated especially for the outdoors, but also can be placed indoors. They are more of a challenge because of their size and I hope to complete all of these pieces by the end of the year. I always work on several pieces at once, and currently I’m preparing to work on five small pieces for an auction event and two bigger pieces, the “Stillness” series. They are more of a challenge because of their size and I hope to successfully finish all of them.

TAL: What are your near/long term goals as an artist?

JL : The overarching goal is, definitely, to grow as an artist. I hope my art work can allow people to share emotions that are common to many viewers as a comfort. Art is a gift that can unite and soothe us, and often when we need it most.

TAL: Where can people view/purchase your work?

JL : I have chances to show the work to the public through selected or invitational exhibition now, and it is currently available from my website as well as my studio.

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