‘While painting I look at my monsters and get on their backs to face destiny.’
Artist: 이준원 / Lee Jun Won
Artistic style: Primary colours and thick, dark lines that follow decorative rhythms
Lee Jun Won graduated BA in visual design at Choong Ang University, Seoul, South Korea. As a teenager, Lee writes, ‘I always dreamt about being an artist’, so when the time came, he attended an art university. After his graduation, Lee spent a period of time working in the advertisement industry, but his dreams of being an artist stayed with him. Lee started his career as an artist in his 30’s, and describes his reason for doing so as: ‘I didn’t want to live with my ‘second choice’. This is both admirable and brave, and a good reminder that we do only get one chance at life.
Lee’s first two solo exhibitions were held at K-Modern Art Gallery’s curated exhibition in 2017 and in France in 2018. Subsequent solo exhibitions include ‘Solid rules’ in 2020 at CICA in Korea, ‘MYTH’ in 2021 at Art Centre White Block, and ‘Totem Flow’ in Print Bakery inside of ‘The Hyundai Seoul’ in 2022. Currently Lee is also participating a curated exhibition named ‘Freaks in Wonderland’ in K-Modern Art Gallery – which sounds really interesting.
Who are your biggest artistic influences?
I had the art book of Picasso, that used to belong to my dad. I dreamt to be an artist when I saw that art book. Also I love Jackson Pollock, amongst other abstract expressionists from New York. I’m not the expert but the artworks from German Neo-expressionism artists.
What is your studio like?
I call my studio ‘the Cave’ since it is in lower ground floor, and as you can see, it feels like drawing inside of the cave. I can focus on my work since it cuts off the outer environment, even the time.
What is your dream project?
I’m currently working at ‘Totem Series’ which is focused on totemistic existence who has primitive energy. I would like to research more about the basic power and use of drawing as a material.
When you start new pieces, what does your creative process look like? Do you plan each piece out before you start, or do you let the piece come to life as you go?
I don’t think about some images since I would copy it eventually. It could be called ‘automatism’, I drew spontaneously without any ides or sketch. I don’t think I’m drawing something, I’m just putting out something from my mind. I don’t have any blueprint of the works. The feature that I created in the canvas would be the original version. This process helps me to have existential energy.
How do you overcome creative blocks?
I face my challenges, fear and pressure in the process of every work. I try to simplify the process to raise the focus which makes the plan simple and adventurous. Sometimes I listen to strong beat sound or abstract music to be more focused. In the earlier process, when I put something from nothing I use dark light or purple light, which helps me to increase focus when I feel like working on deep abyss.
I need an instantaneous focus since I don’t have a detailed plan, but sometimes I faced a lack of energy when I had hard time in my life and suffered from small worries. At that time it is hard to work even though I have physical energy. Creating art cannot be done only because you work ‘hard’ due to its nature.
What’s the best reaction someone has had to your artwork?
I once drew nine-meter-long improvisation mural. As I drew it on the street many people cheered me up during the process, which was quite memorable.
What’s been the most surprising thing about being an artist?
I love thinking about the art, but I found out that it disturbs me when I concentrate on the ‘art scene’ at some extent. Now I’m trying to focus on my work and daily life apart from that, being as simple as I can.
What do you hope people take away from your artwork?
My works consist of semi-abstract figures and narratives. I hope people could find philosophical sensibilities of their own and feel aliveness and energy.
Faye’s comment
Lee’s quote, “While painting I look at my monsters and get on their backs to face destiny” is really interesting to me. There’s a sense of “poetic” horror to his paintings, in the way he paints “barely human” body parts, and how the limbs / claw like shapes are captured. I think, mostly due to the colours, I didn’t immediately see the shapes as body parts, but after I had it seemed really obvious. That’s one of things I like the most about art, I think, it takes a while to appreciate, and is exciting when you do. The colours Lee uses are exciting too. Lee has created an interesting video showing the process involved in one of his creations pinned to his Instagram page – @jwlee_art.
If you have any enquiries about purchase or collaboration Lee can be contacted by email at: junwonart@naver.com