The Painting of Lee
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."
this is about the Korean war and how it became a product of the cold war. it also states the similarities and difference btwn the Vietnam war.
The newest edition of the New York Korean Film Festival has as this year's theme, "Wounding and Healing." This year's typically eclectic selection includes romantic comedies, period films, crime films, and distinctive independent films.
These programs feature talented filmmakers, and proves that in current Korean cinema, some of the most challenging and exciting works are emerging from the independent sector.
The "New York Korean Film Festival" is an annual film festival currently organized by "The Korea Society" which strives to bring more knowledge and understanding of Korean culture along with building a bridge between the United States and Korea.
The New York Korean Film Festival, screening from August 21 through September 2, 2007 at Cinema Village, IFC Center and BAM Rose Cinemas, once again highlights the remarkable diversity of current Korean cinema.
