“Studying God’s Word seems to broaden my artwork. I want to make only works that God likes. I believe in Philippians 4:13, which says I can do everything through Him who strengthens me.”
Lee Ho-yeon (42, Hope Church, Gangnam-gu, Seoul), a Christian painter who recently returned to Korea after working actively in New York City, boldly confessed his faith.
Lee is a devout Christian who thanks God for helping her overcome hardships and wants to spread the gospel through his paintings. He was born ahead of his due date as a seven-day-old premature baby, weighing 1.72 kilograms(3.8 Pounds), and suffering from an unusual breathing disorder called “supramembranous disease” (respiratory distress syndrome). Before he was born, the doctor said “We cannot guarantee the survival of the mother and child.”
But after 50 days in the incubator, he survived dramatically. But he was in and out of the hospital for more than a year. His eyes, nose, and mouth were all sore, and he developed slurred speech as a result. Nevertheless, he recovered through his parents’ prayers and constant language training.
“I express God’s love for the universe and the world in my paintings,” Lee said in an interview with the Kookmin Ilbo on May 5, 2014, ”and I hope that my inadequate works will spread the gospel to the unbelievers and encourage those who are struggling.”
Since his first solo exhibition at the Insa Gallery in Seoul in 2005, he has held more than a dozen group and solo exhibitions. Since August 2010, he has been a fellow at The Arts Students of New York in Manhattan, New York, and a member of the Agora Gallery in Chelsea, New York, and has emerged as a promising young artist. His biblical-themed works will be published in two books early next year.
His work is described by those around him as “like a clear dawn.” It is fresh and unadorned, like a dawn that has defeated the darkness. His faith in God and the purity of his heart are reflected in his works, which are painted in vibrant primary colors and have a mystical feel.
He said that he has become more zealous in his faith these days. He goes to church every week and doesn’t miss Sunday services and youth Bible study groups. He prays morning and night and asks God for inspiration for the day’s work. “It is because of God’s love that I was able to survive my lonely study abroad life without giving up,” he said, adding, ”I want to devote myself to creating works that benefit the world with my God-given talents, not worldly success.”
Lee has been holding a solo exhibition at the Love Art Gallery at the Love Church on Banpo-Daero in Seocho-gu, Seoul, since Sept. 9. Lee, who majored in Western painting at Baekseok University of the Arts and Hyeoksung University Graduate School of Art, has always been interested in the Bible, the word of God. The exhibition, which runs through the 21st, also deals with characters and contents from the Bible. The exhibition features 28 oil paintings, including ‘The Last Supper,’ ‘Jesus and the Lamb,’ ‘The Way of the Cross,’ ‘The Centurion’s Faith,’ and ‘The Parable of the Prodigal Son.
The theme of the exhibition is “Beyond Inspiration. The theme is “Beyond Inspiration” because the inspiration that comes from reading the Bible gives Lee peace and drives his work. In particular, biblical figures such as Jesus Christ, the cross, the prodigal son, Pilate, Peter, and Nicodemus are highlighted in brightly colored oil paintings.
His only thought is to glorify God through his paintings. “My mission is to share the gospel with a brush in one hand and a cross in the other,” says Lee. Please pray for me. I will be a painter-missionary,” he says, his voice soaring.
[Source] – Kookmin Ilbo
[Source] – https://www.kmib.co.kr/article/view.asp?arcid=0922839571
