Rhee Jeong-Yeon proposes travel to her audience through her work. She guides them to something that goes beyond what is seen to share it with her. The artist is a faithful and passionate professor. During her long teaching profession, she has been mainly teaching drawing. Although the purpose of drawing is to precisely catch what is seen, its goal is also to train how that should be recomposed and displayed.

화가 이정연은 작품을 통해 관객에게 여행을 제안한다. 관객에게 보이는 것 너머를 그녀와 공유하도록 인도한다. 작가는 성실하고 열정적인 교수이다. 오랜 교직에서 주로 소묘(drawing)를 가르쳐왔다. 소묘는 보이는 것을 정확하게 잡아내는데 목적이 있지만, 동시에 그것을 어떻게 재구성하여 보여줄 것인가에 대한 훈련을 목표로 한다.

The artist helps her students to not only catch shape and recognize color through eyes but also master the path of developing the technique of reproducing them on their own. Through such lesson, she focuses on the relationship between object and subject. The most important thing ultimately is the understanding on awareness as the subject of sense.

작가는 학생들에게 눈을 통해 형태를 잡아내고 색을 인지하게 할 뿐 아니라, 그것을 재현하는 기술을 개발하도록, 스스로 그 길을 터득하도록 돕는다. 작가는 이런 수업을 통해 대상과 주체간의 관계에 초점을 맞춘다. 가장 중요한 것은 결국 감각의 주체로서의 인식에 대한 이해이다.

Rhee Jeong-Yeon's works are very tightly related to her life. Her religious practice is the center that leads her life. Who has a life that is light in its weight? Through her journey of life that is not easy, the artist reveals times that have been accumulated humbly and consistently toward one aim, absolute God, the Lord. Boiling hot respiration becomes one stroke and solidly raised up prayer changes into hemp cloth that is tightly and fully attached to canvas. Nacre that has been added at times appear as the artist's laughter and gratitude and virtue cast away to those around.

이정연(李貞演, RHEE JEONG YOEN)작가의 작품은 작가의 삶과 매우 긴밀하게 밀착되어있다. 작가의 종교적 실천이 삶을 이끄는 중심이다. 삶의 무게가 가벼운 자가 어디 있겠는가? 작가는 녹녹치 않은 삶의 여정에서 하나의 지향점, 절대 신, 하나님을 향한 겸손하고도 일관되게 쌓인 시간들을 드러낸다. 끓어오르는 뜨거운 호흡이 하나의 획이 되고, 단단하게 쌓아 올라간 기도가 화면에 꽉 밀착된 삼베 천으로 변한다. 거기에 간간이 더해진 자개는 작가의 웃음과 주변에 흘려보낸 감사와 덕으로 보인다.

Her attitude towards life is reverent yet warm and shows the sufficiency of embracing her surrounding. Although her canvas that has been decorated through great brushstroke and arduous labor while being faithful to her life is somewhat rough and seen as decorative at times from the subject matter, it is like her letter that is sent to the future by fully containing her past and present.

삶에 대한 작가의 태도는 기도처럼 경건하지만, 따뜻하고, 주변을 감싸 안는 넉넉함을 보여준다. 자신의 삶에 충실하고, 멋진 필력과 힘든 노동으로 가꾸어낸 화폭은 다소 거칠거나 때로는 소재로 인해 장식적으로 보일 때도 있지만, 작가의 과거와 현재를 고스란히 담아서 미래로 보내는 그녀의 편지와도 같다.

Each moment of Rhee Jeong-Yeon has been melted into her work like many lives in the world that are growing as countless operations work that are not precisely revealed or felt each moment. Her works speak to us. The artist's wish for her life and passion, prayer clothed with artistic expression, love, life and energy to be conveyed to other as they face her work so that they may be of some meaning to other is fully contained.

정확하게 매 순간 드러나거나 느껴지지는 않지만, 무수한 작동들이 일함으로써 성장하는 세상의 많은 생명들처럼, 이정연의 매 순간은 그렇게 작품 안에 녹아있다. 작품은 우리에게 말을 건다. 자신의 삶과 열정, 그리고 예술적 표현을 옷 입은 기도가, 사랑이, 생명과 에너지가 작품 앞에선 다른 이에게 전달되기를, 그래서 작을지라도 무언가 의미가 되기를 바라는 작가의 마음이 그대로 담겨있다.

The force to strip off hidden things, endless prayer and self-reflection to reach eternity, courtship toward invisible things, poem of gratitude on life are Rhee Jeong-Yeon work. Through her lonely struggle of displaying concentration while restraining desire towards that place without rest even today, her love and in-depth insight are poured out from her work.

숨겨진 것들을 벗겨내는 힘, 영원에 도달하려는 쉼 없는 기도와 자기 성찰, 그리고 보이지 않는 것들을 향한 구애, 생명에 대한 감사의 시가 바로 이정연 작가의 작품이다. 오늘도 쉬지 않고 그곳을 향해 욕망을 절제하고, 집중력을 발휘하는 작가의 고독한 싸움을 통해 작품 안에 그녀의 사랑과 깊은 통찰이 쏟아져 나온다.

△Jin Hwi-Yeon/Art historian, Sungshin Women's University Occidental Painting(진휘연/미술사가, 성신여자대학교 서양화과)

◆Rhee Jeong Yoen

1952 Born in Seoul 

▲Education

1975 Graduated from College of Fine Arts Seoul National University (B.F.A),

          Seoul, Korea

1984 Studied Art Education Graduated School of Seoul National University,

        Seoul, Korea

1988 Graduated from Pratt Institute (M.F.A), Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.

1993 Studied Art Education in Doctoral Program at Teachers College,

       Columbia University (ED.D.CT), New York, U.S.A.

▲Solo Exhibitions 38times

2015 38th-SteinbergMuseumofArtatHillwood

2014 37th-Palazzo Tagliaferro Museum, Andora, Italy

2014 36th- Ueno Royal Museum , Tokyo, Japan

2012 35th - ART ASIA/1, Kips Gallery, COEX, Seoul

2011 34th - Invitation Exhibition, Kips Gallery, NewYork, Chelsea

2010 33th - Invitation Exhibition, Chelsea West Galley, NewYork, Chelsea

        32th - ART KARLSRUHE, Germany

2009 31th - CASO (Contemporary Art Space Osaka), Osaka, Japan

2007 30th - KCAF (Korean Contemporary Art Festival), Seoul Arts Center, Seoul

29th - Invitation Exhibition, Gallery Oms, New Jersey, U.S.A.

2006 28th - Invitation Exhibition, Galerie BHAK

         27th - KCAF (Korean Contemporary Art Festival), Seoul Arts Center, Seoul

2005 26th - KCAF (Korean Contemporary Art Festival), Seoul Arts Center, Seoul

2004 25th - Insa Art Carnival, Insa Art Center, Seoul

2004 24th - SFAF, Seoul Arts Center, Seoul

        23th - KCAF (Korean Contemporary Art Festival), Seoul Arts Center, Seoul

2003 22th - KCAF (Korean Contemporary Art Festival), Seoul Arts Center, Seoul

2002 21th - Osaka Museum, Japan

        20th - KCAF (Korean Contemporary Art Festival), Seoul Arts Center, Seoul

2001 19th - Invitation Exhibition, Kovayashi Gallery, Tokyo, Japan

         18th - Invitation Exhibition, Dongsanbang Gallery, Seoul

         17th - Invitation Exhibition, Sungkok Art Museum, Seoul

        16th - KCAF (Korean Contemporary Art Festival), Seoul Arts Center, Seoul

2000 15th - Gallery Art Fair (Dongsanbang Gallery Invitation), Seoul Arts Center, Seoul

         14th - Invitation Exhibition, Gallery Grimsi, Suwon

         13th - MANIF Seoul International Art Fair, Seoul Arts Center, Seoul

1999 12th - MAC 2000, Paris, Prance

        11th - Keumho Museum, Seoul

        10th - Invitation Exhibition Marking Foundation of CAMOS, Gallery Ami, Seoul

1998 9th - Gallery Art Fair (Gallery Ami Invitation), Seoul Arts Center, Seoul

        8th - Wonju Chiak Culture & Art Center, Wonju

       7th - Kongpyung Art Center, Seoul

1995 6th - Haworth Public Library, New Jersey, U.S.A.

      5th - Center Gallery, New Jersey, U.S.A.

1994 4th - HAENAH-KENT Gallery Invitation, Seoul

1990 3rd - Gallery Hankuk Invitation, Seoul

1989 2nd - Macy Gallery, New York, U.S.A.

1987 1st - Higgings Hall Gallery, New York, U.S.A.

▲Awards

1975 Selected for the 24th National Arts Exhibition, Seoul

1976 Selected for the 25th National Arts Exhibition, Seoul

1984 Winner of the Prize from the Paris International Art Committee, Paris, France

1985 Selected for Student’s Choice Show, Brooklyn, New York

1991 Award for Excellence in Women’s Vision Juried Art Exhibition,

         Teachers College, Columbia University, New York

1998 Contemporary Formative Artist’s Award

2000 The 10th Korean Fine Art Artist’s Award

         Ehwa Alumni Award

2006 Received KCAF Invited Artist Award

2011 Innovation Leader of Korea Award : category of Culture and Art (Newsmaker)

2012 Respected Person of the Year Award : category of Culture and Art (Sisa Today)

2013 Innovation Leader of Korea Award : category of Culture and Art (Newsmaker)

▲Selected Group Exhibitions

1983 The Invitational Exhibition of Korean Artist, Germany

1991 24 Korean Artists in New York, Haenah-Kent Gallery, Soho,

         New York, U.S.A.

1992 Seoul/New York ’92, Korean Art Cultural Center, New York, U.S.A.

1994 The 8 Women Artists From Korea, Haenah-Kent Gallery, New York

1999 Indigenity of Korean Art, Posco Art Museum, Korea

2000 21 Remarkable Artists, Gallery Bogo, Seoul, Korea

        10th Anniversary of Establishing Diplomatic Relations,

        Sofia Municipal Gallery, Bulgaria

2001 Opening Exhibition of Lim Lip Museum, Lim Lip Museum

2002 Exhibition by Invitation Recommended by Fine Art Teporters-Direction and   Examination   of  Korean Fine Art, Gallery Korea Exhibition by Invitation of Judging Committee, The 23rd Worker Culture and Art Festival, Sejong Culture Hall  Fine Art Festival for Peace Between South and North, Sejong Culture Hall Exhibition by Invitation of 10 Korean Modern Fine Artists, Galleria Artomat, Italy

2003 6 Korean Contemporary Artists from Korea, Koran Embassy to UN Gallery,

          New York Best Star & Best Artist, Gana Insa Art Center, Seoul

2004 Seoul Contemporary Art Exhibition in Rome, House of Association of Architects of  Rome,   Italy

2005 Invited artist of Seoul Fine Art Exhibition, Seoul Museum of Art Exhibition by Invitation of the Kyunghyang Shinmun in Commemoration of 60th Anniversary of National Liberation, Kyunghyang Gallery, Kyunghyang Shinmun Exhibition by Invitation of Korean Fine Art, Municipal Culture Center, Merina, Greece. And more than 100 Other Group Exhibitions

▲International Art Fair

2000 Mac2000, Paris, FRANCE

2001, 2002 Art Cologne, Koelnmesse, Cologne, Germany

2001, 2002, 2003 Art Chicago (Galerie Bhak), Merchandise Mart, Chicago, U.S.A.

2001 Palm Springs International Art Fair (Galerie Bhak), U.S.A.

         Art Miami (Galerie Bhak), U.S.A.

2001, 2002 San Francisco International Art Exposition, U.S.A.

2002 Melbourne Art Fair, Gallery Bhak, Australia

2005 ARCO Art Fair, FEMA, Madrid, Spain

        Art Sydney, Royal Hall of Industries & Hordern Pavillion, Sydney

2007 palma de Mallorca, Spain The 6th KIAF (Korea International Art Fair), Galerie Bhak, COEX, Seoul St-Art 07, Parc des expositions Strasbourg, France

2009 The 8th KIAF (Korea International Art Fair), COEX, Seoul Gallery Kaze (Osaka, Japan) COEX, Seoul ARTELISABOA 09 FEIRA INTERNATIONAL DE LISBOA, PARQUE DAS NACOES, LISBOA, PORTUGAL KACF (Korea), MANIF (Korea), SFAF (Korea), KIAF (Korea) etc.

2010 ART KARLSRUHE, Germany Art Hampton, New York, U.S.A. International Asian Contemporary Art MIAMI The 10th KIAF (Korea International Art Fair), Kips Gallery (NewYork Chelsea), COEX, Seoul

2011 Art Chicago, Chicago, U.S.A. SF Fine Art Fair Modern & Contemporary art, San Francisco, U.S.A. The 11th KIAF (Korea International Art Fair), Kips Gallery(NewYork Chelsea), COEX, Seoul

2012 SF Fine Art Fair, San Francisco, U.S.A. Houston Art Fair, Houston Texas, U.S.A. Art Miami, Miami Florida, U.S.A. Korean Art Show, New York, U.S.A. ART ASIA/ 1 Asia-representing Artists, COEX, KOREA

2013 The 13th KIAF (Korea International Art Fair), COEX, Seoul. HFAF : Housston Fine Art Fair 2013, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas, U.S.A Art Hamptons 2013, The Sulpture Fields of Novas, NY, U.S.A Palm Springs Fine Art Fair 2013, Palm Springs Convention Center, U.S.A Shin Han Gallery Annual Exhibition, Shin Han Bank, NY, U.S.A

▲Work Archived

UN Headquarters, National Museum of Modern Art (Fine Art Bank),

Seoul Museum of Art, Geumho Art Museum, SK Telecom,

Gobayashi Gallery (Tokyo, Japan), Embassy of Kenya,

Royal Court of Netherland, Oriental Museum in Italy, Eura Corporation

▲Present

Full Professor, Department of Basic, SADI

Attached artist to KIPS Gallery in Unit