Hye-Seong as an artist

"My work is based on my own experiences and heritage that come from simply living life. It is said that Joy is doubled and sorrow is halved when shares. Painting is a good friend that can share the troubles of my mind. I can handle the joy by myself, but for difficulties, I need help. Art soothes me like a sincere prayer. As an Asian woman artist, I am also searching for the answer to those important questions about power, desire and meaning that are applicable to cross-culture. Through these questions, I hope to talk about what makes each of us who we are."

Until the da... Photo by arttoday on Mar 30, 2012
Me between P... Photo by arttoday on Mar 30, 2012
Do you want ... Photo by arttoday on Mar 30, 2012
n1 Photo by arttoday on Oct 04, 2011
Memory of Ro... Photo by arttoday on May 02, 2011
Untitled Photo by arttoday on Apr 10, 2011
My mother said Photo by arttoday on Feb 23, 2010
Sorrow2 Photo by arttoday on Feb 23, 2010

I graduated from Hongik University. I majored in metal craft and Art Studies, and while attending university, I also taught drawing and basic design at an art institution for high school students.

When I was a sophomore I met my husband, who, at the time, was a student at Sogang University, which is located near my old school. We married in 1992. Our first son was born a year later and we moved to USA for my husband's studies. From there in 1994, our nomadic journey began.

We've lived in four states in the US: Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Michigan, and California, we also spent four years in Toronto, Canada to serve the New Church there and its community. Whenever we move, our family seems to grow as much as our moving truck size increases.

During the time our family spent serving the Rochester community in Michigan, I had the oppertunity to study at Wayne State University. It was a good chance to restart my public life as an artist and an exhibition organizer. Life was going well. However, as we were getting used to life in Toronto and enjoying it deeply, I was diagnosed with kidney problems. My condition didn't get better and we decided to move back to our homeland, South Korea.　

I have many good memories of my sincere friends who live in North America. Here, in Korea, I am able to be a more active member of the art society after a successful surgery, but I started to feel like I was missing something. One day, I found an old picture and realize the reason.

In my second year in America, I had a few Asian friends in town. Ruth, an American, was our English teacher and wasn't afraid to try something new. She came with us to Cazumee's house, and when we were asked what drinks we would like, Ruth was the only one who chose green tea. The rest of us (a Korean, a Chinese, and a Japanese woman) chose to drink coffee. Laughing loudly, we said all together, " The grass looks greener on the other side."

I always remember these happy moments to help me accept the circumstance that I have now. I am sure that I'll understand, with time, why my life has been so full of adventures.

탁혜성 (Hye-Seong Lee)

Education

MA Wayne State University, MI, USA
BA Hongik University, Seoul, South Korea
BFA Hongik University, Seoul, South Korea

Scholaships
1991-1992 Kumho Scholaship
1988-1990 Hongik Scholaship

Awards
2006 First Prize - "Through the eyes of the Artist" Exhibition
2005 First Prize - "Origins" Juried Exhibition
2000 Rehamann Robson & Company Special Merit Award
2000 3rd Prize - Ausable Valley Fine Arts Exhibition

Publications & Articles
2000 The Call of Samuel, Published by Fountain Publishing, MI, USA
1994 Stylization of Essay, Published by Wooram Book Company
2011 Korea Herald-"Gwangju artists explore Diversity"
2007 Canada Kyunghyang News Paper- "Revival of care about human body in Modern art"
2007 Arirang TV - "A new perseption of 'Body'"
2000 Saginaw Charter Township News- Art in public place
1991 Art & Reality, Hongik Art
1991 "Craft as an Environmental Art" DSUS(Design Seminar Of University student)...etc

Solo Shows

3 times include an Award winner show and a Exhibition for celebrating the publishing

Selected Group Exhibitions

2012
Rabbit meets Dragon - Woojaegil Art Museum,Gwangju, South Korea
NOMAS: Wandering in search of home, Pasadena, CA, USA
2011
Deviation from daily life - Gwangju Museum of Art Geumnamro Branch
To bloom a bloom of the Chrysanthemum- Hampyung Museum, Hampyung, Korea
2010
Memorial Exhibition for former President Roh Moo-hyun - Luminarie gallery, Seoul, Korea
2008
Without Boundary - Korean Cultural Foundation, LA, USA
2007
Hongik Alumni Exhibition - Korea News Paper Dosan Art hall, Toronto, Canada
"A new perception of 'body'"-international show
Roger Schnarr, India Asplundh & Hye-Seong Lee Three person show- ZYPR Gallery, Toronto,Canada
Spring Show- Lenox Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2006
Joint exhibition of Korean & Canadian Artists- Lenox gallery, Toronto, Canada
Spring Exhibition- Gallery 201, Toronto, Canada
Latino America 2006 International show, Toronto, Canada
2005
Spring Exhibition - Consulate General gallery, Toronto, Canada
Origins- Etobicoke Civic art centre Gallery, Toronto, Canada
Origins- Neilson Park Creative Centre, Totonto, Canada
Through the eyes of the artist- Lake shore Art gallery, Toronto, Canada
2002-3
Hongik Alumni Exhibition – Radio Korea Dosan Hall, LA, USA
Exhibition for celebrating a hundred years of immigration to USA -Korea Cultural Foundation, LA, USA
2001
The Pleasure Principle- Buckham gallery, MI, USA
2000
Ausable Valley Fine art Exhibition, Kirtland college, MI, USA
Woman in Arts -Smith Theater Gallery, MI, USA
Art in Public Place - Saginaw Charter Township Hall, MI, USA
State of the Arts - Saginaw Township Gallery, MI, USA...etc
"The Call of Samuel", BrynAthyn College, PA, USA....etc