Korean Artist Jongwang Lee Explores His Spiritual Side

Korean artist Jongwang Lee expresses his spiritual nature in his beautiful, intricate artwork, now on view through Susan Eley Fine Art. Using an original recipe of oil paint, resin and pigments, Lee creates paintings that evoke contemporary Western aesthetic through dynamic, intriguing compositions and vibrant colors. Raised in Seoul, South Korea, Lee spent his childhood fighting illness and turned inward; art became his passion and companion. Going on to receive a B.F.A. in painting from Honglk University in Seoul and a M.F.A. from the National University of Tokyo Arts and Sciences, Lee has been featured in group and solo shows throughout Asia. "My number one inspiration is the notion of a mother's love and the practice of Shamanism," states the artist. "I am a very spiritual person and have spent several decades meditating in an attempt to contact the spiritual world. At the same time I have been busy drawing and painting the world of the physical body and ethereal soul."

Since moving to New York in 1999, Lee has exhibited at the Sonoma Museum of Visual Arts, The Hammond Museum, the Korean Embassy, the Japan American Art Association at the Tenri Gallery and the International Art Festival Lantern of the East. "The message expressed in my work are twofold - the return to nature and the desire to communicate in the spiritual realm. If I was not creating art, I believe I would have been a Buddhist monk, relates Jongwang. The paintings are infused with five thousand years of Korean history including the important role of the Shaman. "My grandmother was a famous Shaman in Korea and I was deeply impacted by her work. In the past, Shamans used several kinds of rope placed around the ceremonial area to communicate with the soul world. The linear elements in my paintings echo the role of the Shaman's ropes; they are a connection between the spirit world and reality."

Looking at the work of Jongwang Lee, the viewer is immediately drawn in to art's power to transform and inspire. As Lee aptly states, "I hope that my work encourages people to look within themselves and realize the unbelievable power of life and the dormant potential within each of us." For further information on Jongwang Lee, contact Susie Eley at Susie@susaneleyfineart.com or at 917 952 7641.