The 8th Anniversary of Vergil America
Invitation Exhibition
Sept. 22 – Oct. 30, 2012
SEE & SEA Gallery
1054 Dongsam-dong, Yeongdo-gu, Busan, Korea
Tel 051) 405. 1230 Fax 051) 405. 1230
I have an artist friend who defines purity and innocence. For all his life, his eyes were fixed on drawing and drawing only. His days are usually filled with hours and hours of drawing things that capture his sight. Although it seems as if he was born to draw everything in this world, his focus does not get swayed away by the things of the world.
“Water Lee” is an interesting name. People also find it unusual to be named “water” but his personality seems to reflect the reason. Water Lee does not like to have any conflicts in his daily life. I have never witnessed him getting angry, raising his voice nor rebuking others. Even if there is something bothering him, his way of dealing it seems to be, again, by drawing. He values time spent alone more than time spent with others.
He studies fine arts and animation in the U.S. He has illustrated for American novels, and has worked with Fox Studios and Paramount Studios for about 15 years as an Animation Artist, creating storyboard and layouts. He has also participated in various works throughout the world – in French animation, and Korean advertisements and animation. With his numerous solo exhibitions as well as group exhibitions, Water truly has a brilliant career as an artist.
Not long ago, he introduced me to the new work he has been working on for the past 15 years. The work itself was fresh and new, yet distinct and modern. Titled “The Paradise of Fools,” he illustrated the concept of Cross-Over Art. The paintings combined the elements of fine arts and the experessions of animation to create original yet creative artworks. I was surprised by the way these paintings brought me inner peace and joy. The works portray sincere innocence and purity.
My intention to host this exhibition was for this reason; I want to share the warmth and peace that these paintings bring to as many people as I can. I want to let the people in this world know the kind, pure and humble character of artist Water Lee with the paintings which openly reflect his personality.
Without any conditions, I wanted to carry in motion my plan to open Water Lee’s exhibition. Fortunately, I was able to convince the writers to create a catalogue of Water Lee’s collection in time for his exhibition. I wanted to show his work to every corner of the world.
The exhibition will be held at the See & Sea Gallery located on the clear and fresh Taejongdae in Busan city. It is my first time to present such an innocent and genuine exhibition. As pure as his works are, I hope and pray that he will continue down this path to develop various authentic artworks throughout his life.
I would also like to extend my wish to you to enjoy these works as much as I have. I hope that all the worries in your life will flow away like water and that warm hearts of longing only remain, because neither hatred nor resentment exists in those longing hearts.
Thank you,
Won Lee
The President of Vergil America
Ilive in a small town at the world’s end. This place is called the Paradise of Fools. Born and raised in this town, I am “Water Lee,” the artist. Water is life. And Life is a precious gift given by the skies. With the desire to be as clear as water, I live with a poet’s heart caring and loving each other, at times painting, creating books and flowering animation, carrying water under the moonlit sky, and playing with the birds like clouds, like water at the Paradise of Fools.
Sometimes, when my heart’s water wishes to be red, I pick and plant a red flower; if it wishes to be white, I pour and drink the white clouds; if it wishes to be blue, I gather in lights from the blue sky. And with the paint of my heart, I paint. I paint because I long thee. How can you live without longing? Because there is no hatred in longing. I want to deliver an art without hatred. Because in essence, art is a present!
With this heart, the art I have painted became the roots of “Cross-Over Art.” Combining the techniques of poetry, conversation, and animation, I expressed it with my image. I have named this genre of art, “Cross- Over Art.” I will handle the negative criticism. Any praise will mark my heart and be returned as a mark of my gesture.
When I was young, I accidently killed a bird. I did not have a faint of heart to kill it. My heart was sobbing. I sobbed immensely after burying the bird in the ground. And I sat on the bird’s grave and stared at the sky. The sky was filled with moonlight, the clouds and the birds flew away to their paths. The flower petals fell to the ground daintily. I cry with the flowers as I pick the petals to move them to where the sea is in clear view at the Paradise of Fools. The flower petals rejuvenated into a flower island as the clouds and birds that flew away came back.
The sky was filled with a weeping moon light… This was my childhood life. So, the cloud, moon, bird, sea, flower became the root of my art. With this colorful memories, I paint with longing today.
I invite you all…to the Paradise of Fools…
Sincerely by Water Lee who lives in the Paradise of Fools.
Water Lee has majored in Fine Arts and Animation. As a fine artist, he has held many solo and group exhibitions and is currently working on his newest project for the his next fine art exhibition. He was also a director and producer for many French and Japanese feature and television animations. His works include, Fox Television’s “Ren and Stimpy”, “Family Guy”, and Paramount’s “Rugrats” and “The Wild Thornberrys.”He has made illustrations for magazines, children’s books, illustrated educational books, and comic books. Currently, he is the head instructor at FT ART Academy for fine art students. He’s is currently in the process of producing his lateest project, “Clown’s Garden,” a series of ten books.
